Speaker 1: This is football, Yes, it is indeed. Welcome into a
Speaker 1: new week, Welcome into the back end of a month,
Speaker 1: Welcome into a fresh episode of football Fever. I'm Jason
Speaker 1: Pine with Bonnie Jensen alongside.
Speaker 2: Hello, Bonnie, Hey Piney, I can taste it. I think
Speaker 2: I can taste the victory.
Speaker 1: Look, this is excellent. Should we should not put the
Speaker 1: cart before the horse, though, we should not assume anything.
Speaker 1: Presumably you are talking about the potential Premius Plate victory
Speaker 1: of Auckland f C.
Speaker 2: That's it, that's it, I think you know. I wasn't sure.
Speaker 2: I wasn't convinced it was going to go their way,
Speaker 2: but after last night, I'm feeling pretty good about it.
Speaker 1: All right. Can we get to that in due course?
Speaker 1: Let's work our way through chronologically. You're right, though, it
Speaker 1: is now close enough to really start thinking that this
Speaker 1: is a distinct possibility that Auckland f C are going
Speaker 1: to win the Premier's Plate in their first season. What
Speaker 1: are they seven points clear five games to go? It
Speaker 1: would take a major drop off and form, given the
Speaker 1: fact that they haven't lost on the last ten. Here's
Speaker 1: me getting ahead of myself. Now. It does actually feel
Speaker 1: very real, doesn't it.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it does. I think it's it's really good. We've
Speaker 2: got a team, you know, out of the three Kiwi
Speaker 2: teams that are contending, you know, not only a playoff spot,
Speaker 2: but a title spot. It's certainly keeping you know, us
Speaker 2: Kiwi's far more interested in what is an Australian typically
Speaker 2: dominated league. So yeah, really pleasing to see Auckland still
Speaker 2: right up there.
Speaker 1: All right, let's start at the start of the weekend.
Speaker 1: We're on Saturday in the A League. Men, the Wellington
Speaker 1: Phoenix welcomed Melbourne City. No, not Melbourne City, the Western
Speaker 1: Sydney Wanderers. My apologies to sky Stadium best I've seen
Speaker 1: the Phoenix play for a long long time. Probably deserve
Speaker 1: to win the game. A two two draw and only
Speaker 1: a goal from Nicholas Milanovitch got Western Sydney's share of
Speaker 1: the points. Having said that they were one kneel down
Speaker 1: and two one down, came back twice, so probably deserved
Speaker 1: to draw. I just was quite pleasantly surprised by how
Speaker 1: good Wellington were given the way they've been in the
Speaker 1: last little while. That's you know, still eight games without
Speaker 1: a win, but just so much better.
Speaker 2: It was just so pleasing to see them kind of
Speaker 2: be on top of a game for once and actually
Speaker 2: against a good side. You know, they weren't favorites by
Speaker 2: any means going into the match, especially you know, despite
Speaker 2: the fact they were playing at home. So the fact
Speaker 2: that they were so competitive throughout the full ninety minutes, Yes,
Speaker 2: they didn't get the win. I think it really showed
Speaker 2: Chief his trust and these younger players, and you know,
Speaker 2: he's been forced to give them opportunities throughout the season
Speaker 2: and it's finally starting to pay off and you kind
Speaker 2: of get glimpses of what they can do in a
Speaker 2: year's time and you know next season when these younger
Speaker 2: players they are a little bit older, a little bit wiser.
Speaker 1: It was even more impressive given who was out because
Speaker 1: on Thursday we learned when they put out the ins
Speaker 1: and outs who was definitely out. So no Alex Ruffel,
Speaker 1: we knew that he was suspended, but we found out
Speaker 1: that Scott Wooton, Isaac Hughes and Polo Retray were all
Speaker 1: injured and not able to play. So basically you're taking
Speaker 1: out Wooton, who's been for me anyway, Wellington's best player
Speaker 1: by a distance. Isaac Hughes who's been alongside him in
Speaker 1: central events pretty much the whole time, and Polo Retray,
Speaker 1: who's one of the more experienced players in there, and
Speaker 1: no roof for either, so they kind of had to
Speaker 1: cobble together. Aback four, Tim Payne came in and played
Speaker 1: center back. Sheridan was there, Piper was there as well.
Speaker 1: Sam Sutton looked like Lucas Kelly heel was playing in
Speaker 1: some sort of deep lying midfield role. But it seemed
Speaker 1: to work, Bonnie, Yeah, it did.
Speaker 2: And what I really enjoyed was, obviously, as I mentioned,
Speaker 2: those younger players stepped up and they competed throughout the match.
Speaker 2: But I really liked I saw it like a lift
Speaker 2: and added We've spoken about it a little bit on
Speaker 2: the podcast before, but how you know, everyone's just checked
Speaker 2: out almost They seem angry at each other, like they
Speaker 2: don't want to be there, and I felt like that
Speaker 2: had kind of turned, especially after they scored that first goal.
Speaker 2: Corbyn Piper and I just saw Tim Payne kind of
Speaker 2: lifting up his team and he looked, you know, so pleased,
Speaker 2: And I think that's what was so positive, was, yes,
Speaker 2: they are trying to really go out on the season,
Speaker 2: you know, in the season on somewhat of a high.
Speaker 1: Corbyn Pipe is just a very dynamic player, isn't he
Speaker 1: Just he's just a one hundred percenter And to see
Speaker 1: him score that goal at the far post, and how
Speaker 1: delighted he was, you know, giving the old badge on
Speaker 1: the shirt a bit of a whack. You know, I
Speaker 1: like it when players do that. And look, he's clearly
Speaker 1: a guy who Look, he would absolutely admit he's not
Speaker 1: the most skillful guy in the world, but he will
Speaker 1: never give you anything less than one hundred percent. And
Speaker 1: even afterwards. Gellen Statuic, the coach of Western Sydney, said
Speaker 1: he thought Corbyn Piper was probably the most dangerous aerial
Speaker 1: threat in the entire A.
Speaker 2: League unreal and he kind of reminds me a little
Speaker 2: bit of someone like Mickey Foster, I guess on the
Speaker 2: woman's side, you know, very versatile, can play kind of
Speaker 2: anywhere on the pitch, but yeah, brings us kind of
Speaker 2: energy that. Yes, then they're not so skillful, but they,
Speaker 2: you know, are so threatening and a player you you know,
Speaker 2: as a defender, I personally would not want to defend
Speaker 2: just because they have this presence. And I think Corbyn
Speaker 2: Pipe has grown into that throughout the season. He was
Speaker 2: unfortunate not to start with a whole lot of game time,
Speaker 2: but obviously has had those opportunities now and I think
Speaker 2: he you know, other clubs will certainly probably be having
Speaker 2: his have their eye on him.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think he'll probably start for the rest of
Speaker 1: the year now. I think he's he's earned that right.
Speaker 1: You're so right about his versatility. I think he's played
Speaker 1: about six different positions across the season. Tim Payne sent
Speaker 1: it back. Just a word on him. I thought he
Speaker 1: was very good. I love the spray that he got
Speaker 1: to Zach Sapsford, the young Western Sydney striker who as
Speaker 1: they went shoulder to shoulder into the penalty area in
Speaker 1: the second half, Sapsford took a dive and Tim Payne
Speaker 1: did you see this? Absolutely gave it to him, Absolutely
Speaker 1: gave it to him.
Speaker 2: Yeah. I saw something like that. And I don't know
Speaker 2: if this is controversial of me. I liked how Tim
Speaker 2: Payin's energy throughout the match. Maybe without the other the
Speaker 2: lack of senior players there, he needed to step up
Speaker 2: and remain positive. I liked that. But what I didn't
Speaker 2: like is in the postmatch press conference not press conference
Speaker 2: interview with Kimberly downs on Sky. He was quite negative
Speaker 2: and Kim was asking questions about the match and if
Speaker 2: Tim had seen an improvement, and he was looking more
Speaker 2: across the whole season and how it's been a really
Speaker 2: really you know, not the season they wanted, and I
Speaker 2: just thought it was a little bit poor.
Speaker 1: But anyway, Yeah, he's a pro though, and a perfectionist,
Speaker 1: and he, like all of them, they went be pleased
Speaker 1: with the way things have played out. Yes, he could
Speaker 1: have taken some positives from the weekend, but again they
Speaker 1: were you know, I think he was probably disappointed they
Speaker 1: didn't win the game. They're wonder up with eighty nine
Speaker 1: minutes gone, they let a goal in and all of
Speaker 1: a sudden three points becomes one. Chico Giraldes I like
Speaker 1: this guy. I raally like this guy. He's only contracted
Speaker 1: until the end of this season. He did a postmatch
Speaker 1: interview afterwards, which included an absolutely fantastic description of swimming
Speaker 1: with Sharks and in v Cargo. If you haven't seen that,
Speaker 1: you've got to get on the Phoenix's YouTube channel and
Speaker 1: check it out. But he said he wants to stay.
Speaker 1: I hope he stays. I think he got close to
Speaker 1: the to the Phoenix record for the most back heels
Speaker 1: in a game. The way he links with Costa, I'd
Speaker 1: love to see Chico Giraldi's resigned.
Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think Costa likes, you know, having him there,
Speaker 2: having someone who's up to his standard, you know, looking
Speaker 2: forward in a key link player, and Costa, yeah, linked
Speaker 2: up with him so nicely for that seeking goal. So yeah,
Speaker 2: I agree, Pioneer. He would be important to keep for
Speaker 2: the Phoenix next season.
Speaker 1: Actually, just while we're on that subject, I've just written
Speaker 1: down a list here of the players who are off
Speaker 1: contract at the end of this season, and I'd be
Speaker 1: keen to know from you who would you be looking
Speaker 1: to definitely keep. So I'm going to go through these.
Speaker 1: Chico Giraldis you'd like to see him stay as I would?
Speaker 2: Yes? All right, Sam Sutton, see, I would love for
Speaker 2: the Phoenix looking at from a Phoenix perspective, I would
Speaker 2: love for him to stay. From a Sam Sutton perspective,
Speaker 2: looking to make the all whites you know, at the
Speaker 2: World Cup. I would like to see Sam Sutton go.
Speaker 2: Is that bad?
Speaker 1: No, not at all. And I think for Sam Sutton,
Speaker 1: the footballer as well. He's always said that he wants
Speaker 1: to play offshore. He's always wanted to follow in the
Speaker 1: footsteps of Kakachi and Old and Sing. It's always been
Speaker 1: his stated aim. He's approaching one hundred games for the
Speaker 1: club now, which is way more than any of those
Speaker 1: players ever got to so he's probably been here longer
Speaker 1: than ideally he would have hoped. But he's had a
Speaker 1: few injuries and things haven't quite gone his way. I
Speaker 1: wouldn't like to see him go to another A League club,
Speaker 1: although I have heard drums beating about a potential move
Speaker 1: to Perth Glory for Sam Sutton that didn't work for
Speaker 1: Olie Sale, but I don't know, maybe that's in the wind. Yeah.
Speaker 1: I feel exactly the same way as you. I think
Speaker 1: it'll be great that the Phoenix have him for another season,
Speaker 1: But for the for the footballer and for the for
Speaker 1: the person, I think, you know, maybe he he has
Speaker 1: to bite the bullet and just and take a deal
Speaker 1: over season and try his luck.
Speaker 2: Scott Wharton, Yeah, definitely, but I don't think he will
Speaker 2: stay well. He because there were rumors that he was
Speaker 2: going to be leaving mid season this season.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and he's another one who's been linked to Perth Glory.
Speaker 2: As I understand going to Perth Glory, they're not a
Speaker 2: very good side this season.
Speaker 1: Well that's probably why there's places opening up over there.
Speaker 1: I've heard heard Scott Wooden and Sam Sutton both very
Speaker 1: heavily linked to moves away. I'm like, you know, Scott
Speaker 1: Wharton has been as I say, he's been my player
Speaker 1: of the season and a very difficult, difficult campaign. He's
Speaker 1: been a shining light. So I've I'd like to see
Speaker 1: him stay, but I don't think that he is necessarily
Speaker 1: one hundred percent guarantee to cost of Barbarussis has a
Speaker 1: has a one year option, a player option, club option.
Speaker 1: If they both agree he'll stay another season. You clearly
Speaker 1: want him to stay.
Speaker 2: Yes, I do, and I think for cost you know,
Speaker 2: he's someone that just you know, given his age, all
Speaker 2: due respects, could be on the fringe of that World
Speaker 2: Cup squad next year. So staying at the Phoenix, where
Speaker 2: he's comfortable and is all but guaranteed minutes, you know,
Speaker 2: wouldn't be a bad idea.
Speaker 1: Marco Rojas, Yeah.
Speaker 2: I think I think he can stay if he doesn't
Speaker 2: cost the club a lot, But I feel like we
Speaker 2: haven't Obviously he's been injured, but we haven't seen much
Speaker 2: from him to wow us, you know, so I'm actually
Speaker 2: not that fased about him either way.
Speaker 1: I'd love to see him stay and fulfill the potential
Speaker 1: that he's got. He's only started two games, played seven
Speaker 1: in total, just seems to be afflicted by injuries, which
Speaker 1: is such a shame for such a talented player. When
Speaker 1: he signed at the start of the season, remember Chief,
Speaker 1: he said, I'm going to build my team around Marco,
Speaker 1: That's what he said. But when he's only started two
Speaker 1: of their games, I mean, that's entirely impossible to judge.
Speaker 1: I'd like to see him stay. Whether they'll they'll take
Speaker 1: the chance that he can remain and can remain injury free,
Speaker 1: remains to be seen.
Speaker 2: Corbyn Piper, Yes, I fear though he you know, maybe
Speaker 2: Steve Croker has his eyes on him and he wants
Speaker 2: to return home. Who knows, but maybe he got snubbed
Speaker 2: from Auckland f C. I fear, but yeah, he'd be great.
Speaker 2: He's growing into his place there at the club and
Speaker 2: should stay another season.
Speaker 1: All right. Dublin Boone is the third goalkeeper. He's off
Speaker 1: contract I'm not sure what they'll do with him, and
Speaker 1: it's probably not worth speculating about. They've got all away Emmy,
Speaker 1: they'll have Kelly healed. Whether they keep Dublin boone or not,
Speaker 1: probably neither hen nor there. And the only other one
Speaker 1: is Stephan Kolakowski, who we never really saw enough of
Speaker 1: before that season ending injury. Six games off the bench
Speaker 1: at the start of the season. I thought he was
Speaker 1: quite energy. Whether they'll offer him something, I'm not sure.
Speaker 1: He was a very positive force around the club, as
Speaker 1: you know. He added immeasurably to the culture of the team,
Speaker 1: But whether that's enough to get an extension, I'm not sure.
Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I think culture is so key for this
Speaker 2: team right now, so would like to see him stay.
Speaker 1: All right, We're waiting and see on those players. They
Speaker 1: are the ones who are off contract at the end
Speaker 1: of the season. Consecutive draws for Wellington. That's eight games
Speaker 1: without a win now though, but they are eleventh on
Speaker 1: twenty one points five games to go. Next up, they
Speaker 1: visit the ninth placed Newcastle Jets on Sunday night at
Speaker 1: seven o'clock. It's kind of the Wellington Phoenix women who
Speaker 1: were in action yesterday Sunday in Pottydoa the visit of
Speaker 1: the unbeaten Melbourne City. The still unbeaten Melbourne City a
Speaker 1: one nil win for City, Holly McNamara with her twelfth
Speaker 1: goal of the season. I thought the Phoenix women were
Speaker 1: pretty good value across the ninety minutes, but again just
Speaker 1: couldn't find the goals to you know, to to I
Speaker 1: guess give some significance to the to the amount of
Speaker 1: possession shots they had in this game.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, And I feel like we say this every week
Speaker 2: Pioneer that they were good, they were in the contest,
Speaker 2: but they didn't get the result, and it's it's becoming
Speaker 2: routine for them, it's becoming routine for us. And I
Speaker 2: thought it was impressive actually their performance and the way
Speaker 2: they stayed in the game given they were playing, you know,
Speaker 2: the caliber of Melbourne City. But yeah, I don't know,
Speaker 2: it's it's disappointing. I guess when they come that close
Speaker 2: and they have that many chances in front of goal
Speaker 2: not to not to get anything from it. And it's
Speaker 2: I'm starting to think it's a culture thing in the
Speaker 2: woman's football scene in New Zealand with just our you know,
Speaker 2: lack of being able to sall goals, it's a little
Speaker 2: bit concerning.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I'm looking at March. Remember in January
Speaker 1: and February I made this huge point of how important
Speaker 1: March would be for the Phoenix women, and I look
Speaker 1: at their results in the five games, four losses, three
Speaker 1: of those losses at home. So you know, I said
Speaker 1: March will be the you know, the the month they
Speaker 1: live and die on. And I mean it's not They're
Speaker 1: not dead yet in terms of the top six, but
Speaker 1: you know, to lose at home to to Adelaide United,
Speaker 1: to lose at home to Central Coast Mariners in Melbourne City,
Speaker 1: I think you can probably forgive that because they're a
Speaker 1: very good team. But just and then away at Sydney,
Speaker 1: who have had a terrible season, they just, I don't know,
Speaker 1: they just haven't been able to shake free from the
Speaker 1: affliction of last year when they couldn't pick up points
Speaker 1: at the back end of the season either and ended
Speaker 1: up just outside the spots.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's really like lackluster. You know, they obviously struggle
Speaker 2: on the road. We've spoken about that before. They need
Speaker 2: something to say that this is what they're got at
Speaker 2: and we thought that was them going to winning and
Speaker 2: getting points, picking up points at home, and I don't
Speaker 2: think we can, you know, crucify this performance on the
Speaker 2: weekend against Melbourne City. As you say, they're a very
Speaker 2: good side and actually to go down one nil isn't
Speaker 2: that bad. But yeah, it is a bit of an issue.
Speaker 2: Maybe they'll look at a management change next season, who knows.
Speaker 2: I really like Paul Temple. I think he's done really
Speaker 2: well with the squad, but for two seasons in a
Speaker 2: row for them to you know, just go downhill as
Speaker 2: quite significantly, as somewhat concerning.
Speaker 1: Pretty even stats sixty forty possession in favor of Melbourne City,
Speaker 1: thirteen shots to ten best. The best chance for Wellington
Speaker 1: probably the gold Mouth scramble late in the first half.
Speaker 1: I don't know how they didn't get the ball and
Speaker 1: then it there. Carolinavellaw saved another penalty. Soft penalty though,
Speaker 1: wasn't it? Yeah? Soft penalty?
Speaker 2: Yeah it was, But you know, a saves a save.
Speaker 2: And I don't know what her contract situation is at
Speaker 2: the Phoenix, but she is definitely someone they should be
Speaker 2: holding on too. She has kept the Phoenix well into games.
Speaker 2: She's like Alex Paulsen but probably better.
Speaker 1: Yeah, she I think she's probably got designs on Player
Speaker 1: of the season. Sorry, when I said soft penalty, I
Speaker 1: meant the giving of the penalty. I didn't think. I
Speaker 1: didn't think it was a foul by mac dowry. I
Speaker 1: think the two players just came together and she's pointed
Speaker 1: to the spot. I don't Yeah, if there's vaar, maybe
Speaker 1: it gets overturned. I don't know.
Speaker 2: I don't get me started on va I.
Speaker 1: Know I've done that in the past and I won't
Speaker 1: do it again today. Marty and to speak my back
Speaker 1: to Pottydoer had a great chance on the second half
Speaker 1: but put it wide. Did you see her and Tiana
Speaker 1: Jaba have a bit of a set to in the
Speaker 1: second half during there was a throw in Tiana Mardy
Speaker 1: and I speak my I got up in Tiana Jabe's
Speaker 1: face and she was about to take the throw. Jaba
Speaker 1: gave her a bit of a shove. She went down
Speaker 1: like a drink of milk. Both got yellow cards.
Speaker 2: No, I didn't see that, but I'm not surprised. Honestly,
Speaker 2: I always quite like those games. Though it happened with
Speaker 2: with kraev right when he back on Friday night, for
Speaker 2: the men's game as well, and then the crowd gets involved.
Speaker 2: It's always kind of what you love about football, and
Speaker 2: I reckon Mariana loves you know, enjoys coming back despite
Speaker 2: despite the fact it would give her a bit of fire.
Speaker 1: I heard she was having dinner with a couple of
Speaker 1: the Phoenix players on Friday night. There you go, yes,
Speaker 1: So I'm sure she's still got some good relationships here.
Speaker 1: Melbourne City unbeaten through twenty one games, fourteen wins and
Speaker 1: seven draws. Amazing. Phoenix are eighth on twenty three points. Ok,
Speaker 1: here's the equation, Bonnie, four points outside the top six.
Speaker 1: Canberra have twenty seven, Brisbane have twenty five, Phoenix have
Speaker 1: twenty three. There are two games to go. There's an
Speaker 1: international break, then the Phoenix play Canberra away and Western
Speaker 1: United at home. Now go with me on this. If
Speaker 1: they win them both, they'll get to twenty nine points
Speaker 1: and they would have beaten Canberra, one of the teams
Speaker 1: above them. So if they get those twenty nine points,
Speaker 1: and it's anything but a foregone conclusion given the way
Speaker 1: they've been playing lately, but go with me. If they
Speaker 1: get to twenty nine points, they would need Camborough not
Speaker 1: to win their last game it's away at Western Sydney
Speaker 1: and for Brisbane to get less than four points in
Speaker 1: their last two games Western Sydney at home and Melbourne
Speaker 1: victory away. So Western Sydney are almost a bit of
Speaker 1: a kingmaker here. They haven't been playing very well. I
Speaker 1: get the feeling the Phoenix are just going to miss
Speaker 1: out on the six again.
Speaker 2: Well I was looking at that thinking it's somewhat possible.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it is.
Speaker 2: That's the thing. Here we are, or here I am saying,
Speaker 2: you know, the Phoenix have dropped the ball the second
Speaker 2: back end of the season. However, it has been a
Speaker 2: really really tight competition and up and down results across
Speaker 2: the board. In saying that though, Canberra are a good
Speaker 2: looking team at the moment, and you know, I pulled
Speaker 2: out some really good results away from home, so I
Speaker 2: wouldn't yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if the Phoenix miss out,
Speaker 2: but who knows what can happen. It's just a shame.
Speaker 2: It's out of their control.
Speaker 1: Really, Yeah, no, that's exactly what it is. It's out
Speaker 1: of their control now. And if they don't beat Canberra
Speaker 1: away on the thirteenth of April, then the last game
Speaker 1: doesn't matter. They can't make it, so they've got to
Speaker 1: win that game. They can't even afford to draw it.
Speaker 1: That won't be enough. They need to win against Canberra
Speaker 1: and yeah, and that keeps them alive going into the
Speaker 1: last game of the season. Tianna Jaba just on her
Speaker 1: in line to play her first home internationals for Lebanon
Speaker 1: this week. She's been named in their squad for a
Speaker 1: couple of friendlies and the Football Ferns play Chinese Taypeei
Speaker 1: this Saturday and next Tuesday. The first one of these
Speaker 1: is behind closed doors. Do you have any any idea why?
Speaker 2: No idea why? It doesn't make sense to me, But
Speaker 2: maybe maybe it's it's Michael Maine, maybe it's the opposition.
Speaker 2: I'm not sure that it's happened a couple of times
Speaker 2: for the Football Ferns recently, so I don't really get
Speaker 2: the purpose of it, especially when you're trying to grow
Speaker 2: the woman's game. But here we are.
Speaker 1: You're so right, Why would New Zealand and Chinese Taypeei.
Speaker 1: For what earthly reason would they play a game behind
Speaker 1: closed doors?
Speaker 2: I mean maybe if it's right before a World Cup
Speaker 2: like they did back in twenty twenty three, I think
Speaker 2: against Argentina, or you know, maybe if it's a head
Speaker 2: of a big event, but for just a random friendly
Speaker 2: and non important year in women's football. I don't get it.
Speaker 2: I don't get it.
Speaker 1: I do not get it either. But at least we
Speaker 1: can watch the second one, which is on the Tuesday,
Speaker 1: the following Tuesday, So this coming Saturday, I can't watch
Speaker 1: that the following Tuesday. Only a couple of Phoenix players
Speaker 1: in the squad, Dharmenia Elliott and Annalie Longo. So I
Speaker 1: guess that'll please Paul Temple that he just loses those
Speaker 1: two Antianna Jaber of course, as he prepares for the
Speaker 1: final push, the final push he hopes, I'm sure, towards
Speaker 1: a top six spot. And so we land at Auckland
Speaker 1: FC a two nil win over Brisbane in Brisbane last
Speaker 1: night had a pretty barren sort of a sun corpse stadium.
Speaker 1: It reminded me actually of watching games during COVID times.
Speaker 1: Nobody turned up to watch Brisbane play, and that's hardly surprised,
Speaker 1: and given the season that they've had a goal late
Speaker 1: in the first half from Nando Pinneker, a second from
Speaker 1: a rookie Saki late on which was given after var
Speaker 1: review originally chalked off or the flag went up for offside.
Speaker 1: I don't think it was Auckland FC's best performance, but
Speaker 1: more than enough to get the job done.
Speaker 2: No, I didn't either. I thought that I was worried
Speaker 2: in the first half a. I was like, oh, maybe
Speaker 2: it's not going to happen. And yeah, I think pleasing
Speaker 2: the fact that they were able to get the job
Speaker 2: done regardless, you know, comparing it back to the last
Speaker 2: time they were away against the Newcastle Jets and they
Speaker 2: didn't play well by any means and didn't get the
Speaker 2: result they wanted. So the fact they were still able
Speaker 2: to pull it off against Brisbane, especially when these games
Speaker 2: are so important, I thought that was really impressive.
Speaker 1: Yeah. They've also off the back of three straight draws,
Speaker 1: including the Newcastle game you just mentioned and those other
Speaker 1: two at home that we've talked about a lot, where
Speaker 1: they threw away leads and can to late goals to
Speaker 1: drop points. So Steve Kyriker, I'm sure will be pleased
Speaker 1: to be back in the winner's circle as it was.
Speaker 1: Dan Hall and Nando Pinak are starting together for the
Speaker 1: first time since Round seven. Of course Dan Hall started
Speaker 1: in the last game against the Mariners, but Pinnaker was suspended,
Speaker 1: and of course Dan Hall was out for that long
Speaker 1: fourteen to fifteen week stretch. I don't know, they just
Speaker 1: seem so secure, doren't they another clean sheet? You look
Speaker 1: at that back five, Paulson Sarki Hall Pineker devrees. It
Speaker 1: just seems like such a solid, solid back five, doesn't it.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it does, and it's scary for any team that's
Speaker 2: going to come up against them in the playoffs. And
Speaker 2: just a word on Alex Paulson. I saw Auckland FC
Speaker 2: release this morning on their instagram. You know, ten clean
Speaker 2: sheets leading the league, seventy five percentage leading the league,
Speaker 2: and four goals prevented, which is also best in the league.
Speaker 2: So it's yeah, it's really really good stats. And it
Speaker 2: was great to see Dan hallback and I think he's
Speaker 2: he's come back, you know, no worries at all. He
Speaker 2: doesn't look like he's been away for months. Yeah, really
Speaker 2: really pleasing. I thought it was. It was surprising to
Speaker 2: see no no med Aino in there. Obviously Max Munter
Speaker 2: was back, but no Nada. I think he's out with
Speaker 2: a are we hamstring injury or groin injury.
Speaker 1: Yep, yep, that's what That's what the word was. So
Speaker 1: so yeah, how long that keeps him out? I'm not
Speaker 1: too sure. Interesting too, though, that Marley Francois got the
Speaker 1: got the start ahead of a guy like Jesse Randall,
Speaker 1: for example, who has started the last two matches and
Speaker 1: was in the match day squad. I think yesterday didn't
Speaker 1: get on Marley Francois. I'm still to be a little bit.
Speaker 1: I'm still a little bit unconvinced by Marley Francois. I
Speaker 1: think he's very energetic. I think he tries hard, but yeah,
Speaker 1: I'm not sure that he adds more than more than
Speaker 1: you know, Jesse randal Wood, or even actually more than
Speaker 1: the now and visit Liam Gillion. What has happened to
Speaker 1: Liam Gillion? Where has he gone?
Speaker 2: I have no idea, and that actually reminds me pioneer
Speaker 2: job for me today is to go to Auckland EFC
Speaker 2: and ask where he is. I heard a few probably
Speaker 2: a month ago now, he was carrying an injury and
Speaker 2: that's why he was left out of some squads. I'm
Speaker 2: not sure if that's still the same now, but it
Speaker 2: is a real shame. I know, Liam Gillion obviously started
Speaker 2: incredibly and then you know, wasn't able to find the
Speaker 2: back of the net, which was eventually the reason he
Speaker 2: was dropped completely from the squad. But I feel like
Speaker 2: it still is really really harsh. I mean, you don't
Speaker 2: get a call up to the all white squad for
Speaker 2: no reason, you know, So yeah, it is. It is
Speaker 2: a bit of a shame. I'm the same as you,
Speaker 2: pioneer Marley Francois. I'm not convinced on him. However, we
Speaker 2: said this about Nada Madina and we will proved completely wrong.
Speaker 2: So I don't want to I don't want to get
Speaker 2: ahead of myself there. I did think that front line
Speaker 2: and the link to the midfield struggled, particularly in that
Speaker 2: first half. I think without the Nada you often comes
Speaker 2: in and goes more central and plays a little bit
Speaker 2: deeper as a kind of acting as a link to
Speaker 2: the front the Fords, and without Naida there they kind
Speaker 2: of lacked at a bit. So I thought what Steve
Speaker 2: Corriker did in the second half, bringing cam House and
Speaker 2: on at halftime was probably the right move.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it was an interesting formation, wasn't it. And that
Speaker 1: Jake Brimmer wasn't in the starting eleven either for the
Speaker 1: first time in quite a while. Just yet. Back to
Speaker 1: Liam Gillian, he played the first he started the first
Speaker 1: eleven games of the season and then he was down
Speaker 1: to the bench and he came came on in the
Speaker 1: next game against Melbourne City at home. But he has
Speaker 1: not been seen since, and that is January eighteen. He
Speaker 1: hasn't been on the grass for Auckland FC. And yes,
Speaker 1: there might have been an injury issue in amongst all
Speaker 1: this for over two months, it just doesn't compute.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and bearing as well, that first eleven games was
Speaker 2: probably Auckland f C's strongest run, right I'm trying to
Speaker 2: think in terms of results, that's when they had a
Speaker 2: really good run. Yes, they weren't scoring that many goals,
Speaker 2: but they were getting the results and that's what gave
Speaker 2: them that lead right from the start. So it is
Speaker 2: a bit of a shame. He's kind of dropped from
Speaker 2: the face of the earth. So, yeah, that'll be on
Speaker 2: my jobs list right after this recording to go and
Speaker 2: see what the hecks happened to him, because I hope
Speaker 2: he gets another shot, you know, and it might just
Speaker 2: take you know, him to come off the bench one
Speaker 2: match and score a winning goal to be back in
Speaker 2: the picture. And I hope that happens for him because
Speaker 2: I think he is a bright young star for the country.
Speaker 1: I look at where he got dropped, and it was
Speaker 1: dropped from the starting eleven after that Perth glory loss away.
Speaker 1: That was his last start, and that came off the
Speaker 1: back of that Nillel draw on New Year's Day against
Speaker 1: Melbourne victory. So you know, off, you know, two games
Speaker 1: without a win and Steve Couric is quite within his
Speaker 1: rights to make a change, and he got a response
Speaker 1: with Melbourne Citi's the three nil win against them in
Speaker 1: mid January. But then yeah, not to be seen since.
Speaker 1: But then you say to yourself, okay, well in his
Speaker 1: absence they haven't lost, so so you know what motivation
Speaker 1: is there. But I still think he's worth a place
Speaker 1: on the bench, you know, shouldered his shoulder with guys
Speaker 1: like Marley Francois and Bidoir as well. I you know,
Speaker 1: I just anyway, maybe there's maybe there's more to it,
Speaker 1: or maybe we're reading too much into it and it's
Speaker 1: just just selection. Brisbane had more possession in this game
Speaker 1: and thirteen shots to Auckland's nine, but they got the
Speaker 1: job done first, went after three straight door draws. As
Speaker 1: we say now ten unbeaten. I loved Hiroki Sarkive's reaction
Speaker 1: when his goal was confirmed. The guy's just loving it
Speaker 1: at Auckland, isn't he?
Speaker 2: You know, Oh, he's loving it. They're so lucky to
Speaker 2: have extended his contract, and I think he it wouldn't
Speaker 2: have actually been a hard fight because he is loving
Speaker 2: it so much. And yeah, it was the sweetest celebration.
Speaker 2: And the fact he's even been up in those positions,
Speaker 2: you know, being able to finish that. He was the
Speaker 2: loan forward up there alongside I guess Logan Rogerson with
Speaker 2: the assist, but yeah, pretty impressive. He's such a key player.
Speaker 2: I was talking with people in the office. Would you
Speaker 2: give him the player of the season or would you
Speaker 2: give it to someone like Francis or someone like Alex Paulson.
Speaker 1: It's such a good question. I don't know whether they
Speaker 1: do it the same way that Wellington Phoenix do it.
Speaker 1: The way Wellington Phoenix do it is that after each game,
Speaker 1: a group of people, about five or six people give three,
Speaker 1: two and one in terms of points for performance on
Speaker 1: that day. So after the game of the weekend, those
Speaker 1: five or six people all say, okay, well, I think
Speaker 1: Girolis gets my three, Pain gets two and Piper gets
Speaker 1: one or whatever it is. All those points are added
Speaker 1: up over the season, and that's how you get your
Speaker 1: player of the year. See. In many ways, I sometimes
Speaker 1: get to the end of the season and you think
Speaker 1: to yourself, okay, well, who has been the best player?
Speaker 1: If you think back over the twenty seven games, who
Speaker 1: has been the best player? Because it might not always
Speaker 1: be the guy who is top of the points. It
Speaker 1: could well be, but it's not always Like I look
Speaker 1: at who's been the most influential player for Auckland FC
Speaker 1: this season, and yes, SARKI absolutely could well be your guy.
Speaker 1: Louis Vastrata. For me, I've talked about him a lot.
Speaker 1: I think he's been enormous. Nando Pinick has probably got
Speaker 1: a case, Alex Porson's got a case, Francis Derees has
Speaker 1: been excellent. It's so hard, yeah, I mean, who would
Speaker 1: you pick?
Speaker 2: Well, yeah, I think Louis Vastrata would have been up
Speaker 2: there for me, but he's missed too many recently through
Speaker 2: injury and suspensions. And things like that. I don't know
Speaker 2: if that's harsh No, Sarki obviously, but I feel like
Speaker 2: Francis and it probably sounds biased of me, just kind
Speaker 2: of because he's a mate. But I think he's just
Speaker 2: had so many goal contributions and down both ends of
Speaker 2: the park that it is really hard to look past him.
Speaker 2: The other one I wouldn't rule out is Gmo My.
Speaker 2: I think he's been so so good at the top.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and he was really good yesterday too. I'd love
Speaker 1: to see his GPS numbers. He doesn't play like a
Speaker 1: center forward at all, does he. He's back linking up play,
Speaker 1: he's back defending. He's so good with when a ball
Speaker 1: gets played into him because the I just Devrees and
Speaker 1: Sarkai and every on the back four just bangs the
Speaker 1: ball into him. He's got a man right up him,
Speaker 1: and he always gets hold of it, always gets his
Speaker 1: first touch, brings somebody in. It's like you're not even
Speaker 1: surprised anymore when he does it. And they've obviously been told.
Speaker 1: Devrees in particular has clearly been told, look, just bash
Speaker 1: it into my and he'll get hold of it for us.
Speaker 1: So he does, and he does.
Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, and going back to those three two one system,
Speaker 2: I don't know if that would work for Auckland FC
Speaker 2: because you do have players like Nada Moreno or Logan
Speaker 2: Rodgerson who score a couple of goals you know often,
Speaker 2: and they might get man of the match that but
Speaker 2: I'm not sure they necessarily deserve to then go on
Speaker 2: and win Player of the season. But it is a
Speaker 2: tricky one.
Speaker 1: See, I think, like I said before, I think Scott
Speaker 1: Wooden's Wellington's player of the season, but I doubt he
Speaker 1: would be high up in the three two ones exactly.
Speaker 1: So yeah, it's a difficult one to judge. Right. Auckland
Speaker 1: FC a seven point lead at the top five games
Speaker 1: to go. Next up Western Sydney on Saturday at home.
Speaker 1: So you were coming back and forth to me on
Speaker 1: missing this morning as we were trying to work out
Speaker 1: when is the earliest that Auckland FC could potentially win
Speaker 1: the Premiers Play. So here's here's where we are. They
Speaker 1: need nine points from their last five games, Okay, so
Speaker 1: let's not talk about when when's the earliest they could
Speaker 1: win it. If they get nine points from their last
Speaker 1: five games, they win it because that gets them to
Speaker 1: fifty four, which nobody else can get to. So do
Speaker 1: you back them to do that? First of all? To
Speaker 1: get nine points in the next five games?
Speaker 2: However, they got Western Sydney.
Speaker 1: Are you not packing them? Are you to?
Speaker 2: But I need to know their opponents, all right, I'll
Speaker 2: tell you.
Speaker 1: I'll tell you Western Sydney at home, Sydney FC away,
Speaker 1: Melbourne victory away, Perth at home, Western United away.
Speaker 2: The first two. Yes, they're going to get They're going
Speaker 2: to get six points from those two games. I'm a
Speaker 2: bit nervous about Melbourne victory away. There's something about Melbourne
Speaker 2: victory in this time of the season. I think it's
Speaker 2: PTSD from last year against the Wellington Phoenix. I don't
Speaker 2: know so.
Speaker 1: But Perth at home surely to.
Speaker 2: Go oh yeah, and that I kind of just want
Speaker 2: it to be that one because then they're going to
Speaker 2: award it, you know, in front of the home crowd,
Speaker 2: and it's going to be all special.
Speaker 1: Yeah. So they could actually they could win it. As
Speaker 1: I understand it, and I've sort of done a bit
Speaker 1: of reading on this and had some things sent through
Speaker 1: to me, they could win it as soon as the
Speaker 1: Sydney FC game. So two games away if they beat
Speaker 1: Western Sydney and beat Sydney FC. Now again, go with
Speaker 1: me on this. They would win if Western United drop
Speaker 1: three points across their next two games and Melbourne City
Speaker 1: dropped two points across their next two games, so they
Speaker 1: won't know that. Unfortunately, if they do beat Western Sydney
Speaker 1: and then beat Sydney FC, they won't know that they've
Speaker 1: won it until the next day because Western United play
Speaker 1: the next day. So the earliest they could possibly find
Speaker 1: out that they have won it is the Sunday. I'm
Speaker 1: just going to bring the date up here so that
Speaker 1: we've got it actually right, Sunday, the thirteenth of April.
Speaker 1: So if they win this week and beat Sydney FC,
Speaker 1: it might actually be. It might actually be. No, it
Speaker 1: would be, it would be. So I'm trying to do
Speaker 1: the sums in my head. So the earliest they could
Speaker 1: possibly be confirmed premieres is Sunday, April thirteen, at nighttime,
Speaker 1: at nighttime after Western United play play their game.
Speaker 2: So I shouldn't tell my friends in Sydney that Auckland
Speaker 2: f C will be out partying, you know, celebrating their
Speaker 2: premiers play one on the Saturday night in Sydney no, No,
Speaker 2: you maybe the Sunday back and back in Auckland.
Speaker 1: Because if they were celebrating on the Saturday night then
Speaker 1: it would be premature because they wouldn't have won it.
Speaker 2: Yes, okay, so Sunday night Auckland is what you're telling me,
Speaker 2: Pioney Danny Dolan's is probably going to go off.
Speaker 1: Well, it goes off most nights from my experience, even
Speaker 1: on a Monday down there, it's pretty good of it.
Speaker 1: A live years it going anyway, we're digressing. Yeah, so
Speaker 1: that's the earliest look. I think. I think they'll win it.
Speaker 1: And you look for the three wins over the next
Speaker 1: five games and you say, well, they normally win their
Speaker 1: home games. I think they'll beat Western Sydney this coming week,
Speaker 1: even though Western Sydney are a good team. I absolutely
Speaker 1: think they'll beat Perth who are terrible unfortunately for them.
Speaker 1: And then really you're just looking for one of those
Speaker 1: away games. Sydney FC have dropped off a bit lately,
Speaker 1: that will be an opportunity Melbourne victory. I agree. I
Speaker 1: don't see it coming down to that last game because
Speaker 1: this all relies also on Western United continuing to win
Speaker 1: their matches as well and they've got Perth at home,
Speaker 1: Western Sydney away, Brisbane away, Sydney at home, and Adelaide
Speaker 1: it home in Melbourne City, the other team that's in
Speaker 1: the mix as well. Maybe just from week to week
Speaker 1: we should we should do what is logical and just
Speaker 1: say okay, where are we now rather than look too
Speaker 1: far ahead. What do you think?
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so Pinney. But I also think it's
Speaker 2: fair to say they've got one hand on the Premiers plant.
Speaker 1: They could well have that, and of course what comes
Speaker 1: with that is home advantage should they make the Grand final,
Speaker 1: because if you're finished top and you make the Grand Final,
Speaker 1: you host the grand final, so that that's a huge
Speaker 1: part of this as well. Plus you get the second
Speaker 1: leg of the semi final at home as well, which
Speaker 1: which is always always helpful. So yeah, it is. It
Speaker 1: is getting close. It feels unlikely that anybody's going to
Speaker 1: haul them in, even Western United, who are who are
Speaker 1: are on a good run. I just I just don't
Speaker 1: see them. I just don't see Auckland f C dropping
Speaker 1: enough points for you know, for them not to win it.
Speaker 2: No, I don't see it either. I think you know,
Speaker 2: last night they took on Brisbane yes, they're team, but
Speaker 2: Brisbane kind of had more, more chances, more opportunities, more
Speaker 2: possession and the fact Auckland's FC got it done is
Speaker 2: really really promising and shows great potential looking forward to
Speaker 2: looking forward to the playoffs.
Speaker 1: All right, one final piece of news before we go,
Speaker 1: and that is about Ben Old, who it was great
Speaker 1: to see back on the grass for the first time
Speaker 1: since he suffered a knee injury back in mid October,
Speaker 1: so after five months out, he finally got back into action.
Speaker 1: He came off the bench for Saint Etienne. It wasn't
Speaker 1: a very happy day for the club, they lost six
Speaker 1: to one to Paris Saint Jermat, but for Ben Old
Speaker 1: he made it back out onto the grass, which was
Speaker 1: which was nice for him. Yeah. Look, just you know
Speaker 1: what a player, It's just great to have him back
Speaker 1: out there, isn't it.
Speaker 2: Yeah? You know, I think it's just perfectly in time
Speaker 2: for him to you know, hopefully no other injuries, but
Speaker 2: in terms of making his case for the World Cup
Speaker 2: next year, I would love to see him there. Who
Speaker 2: he comes in over, I'm not sure that's squad is
Speaker 2: so competitive now, but he'll certainly be putting his hands
Speaker 2: up based on you know, his most recent performances prior
Speaker 2: to his injury.
Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely think he's there, you know, Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 1: For me, it's a matter of who drops out for him,
Speaker 1: not whether he makes it. I think there's some even
Speaker 1: in that latest squad. You know, you're probably looking at
Speaker 1: guys like Jesse Randall, Logan Rogerson, guys like that who
Speaker 1: perhaps would be the unlucky ones. But when things are
Speaker 1: so competitive, that's the nature of it, isn't it that
Speaker 1: good players are not going to make make all white squads,
Speaker 1: which is probably quite a nice problem to have. Okay, Bonnie, Well,
Speaker 1: that's us for another week on Football Fever this coming weekend,
Speaker 1: as I say, no game for the women, they've got
Speaker 1: the international window. But the Auckland FC men five o'clock
Speaker 1: on Saturday afternoon against the Western Sydney Wanderers and the
Speaker 1: Wellington Phoenix Men seven o'clock Sunday night away at the
Speaker 1: Newcastle Jets. Have a good week here, a good week, Bonnie,
Speaker 1: and we'll chat again next Monday.
Speaker 2: We'll see it then, Piney.
Speaker 1: This is Football Fever Ever.