1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalks EDB. 3 00:00:12,787 --> 00:00:16,507 Speaker 2: After two straight home defeats and just one victory in 4 00:00:16,547 --> 00:00:19,827 Speaker 2: their first five games of the A League Men's football season, 5 00:00:20,107 --> 00:00:23,667 Speaker 2: the Wellington Phoenix back in the winner's circle and is 6 00:00:23,707 --> 00:00:32,427 Speaker 2: that the last opportunity for the visitors? Light in the 7 00:00:32,547 --> 00:00:38,907 Speaker 2: Wellington Phoenix. They climbed from their recent front defeat one 8 00:00:38,907 --> 00:00:45,227 Speaker 2: of the competition's form sites and springboard themselves into next 9 00:00:45,267 --> 00:00:50,987 Speaker 2: weekend's derby. How crucial might that performance that result be 10 00:00:52,147 --> 00:00:55,027 Speaker 2: when they look back upon this season. So a two 11 00:00:55,067 --> 00:00:58,587 Speaker 2: to one win for the Wellington Phoenix over Adelaide United yesterday, 12 00:00:58,667 --> 00:01:01,147 Speaker 2: Alex Rufer opening the scoring in the first half, Remi 13 00:01:01,227 --> 00:01:04,787 Speaker 2: Nazerene adding a second from the penalty spot after an hour, 14 00:01:05,227 --> 00:01:09,227 Speaker 2: Young Joey Ruccio on Dave Boo off the bench for Adelaide, 15 00:01:09,307 --> 00:01:12,107 Speaker 2: making it to one with fifteen minutes to go, but 16 00:01:12,227 --> 00:01:15,627 Speaker 2: the Phoenix hanging on for a crucial three points. Former 17 00:01:15,667 --> 00:01:19,187 Speaker 2: Phoenix and All Whites goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley was in the 18 00:01:19,227 --> 00:01:21,747 Speaker 2: Skysport commentary box for this one and will be again 19 00:01:22,307 --> 00:01:26,547 Speaker 2: for Auckland FC's next match against Newcastle This afternoon underway 20 00:01:26,627 --> 00:01:29,027 Speaker 2: at three o'clock. Jacob want to talk about the Auckland 21 00:01:29,027 --> 00:01:31,387 Speaker 2: f C game in a moment. But for the Phoenix, 22 00:01:31,507 --> 00:01:34,867 Speaker 2: how needed was this win for them yesterday? 23 00:01:36,187 --> 00:01:38,987 Speaker 3: Very finey and it was a different team, wasn't it. 24 00:01:40,067 --> 00:01:43,107 Speaker 3: They looked absolutely polar opposites from the side that took 25 00:01:43,107 --> 00:01:47,507 Speaker 3: the field against MacArthur, and they had energy, They moved 26 00:01:47,547 --> 00:01:50,227 Speaker 3: with intention and we've talked a lot about how this 27 00:01:50,627 --> 00:01:54,947 Speaker 3: sort to control game through possession and pressure, but that 28 00:01:55,067 --> 00:01:57,787 Speaker 3: had a purpose yesterday and that was really clear from 29 00:01:57,827 --> 00:02:01,147 Speaker 3: the outset. We wanted a response after the derby, didn't 30 00:02:01,147 --> 00:02:03,187 Speaker 3: get it last week, but got it in the first 31 00:02:03,387 --> 00:02:07,667 Speaker 3: fifteen minutes yesterday. And importantly they created a product at 32 00:02:07,667 --> 00:02:11,107 Speaker 3: the end that Alex rufer I could argue one of 33 00:02:11,147 --> 00:02:14,027 Speaker 3: the best players on the field, he was a difference 34 00:02:14,027 --> 00:02:18,067 Speaker 3: and he gave kind of value to the inertia that 35 00:02:18,107 --> 00:02:19,307 Speaker 3: they had created. 36 00:02:19,747 --> 00:02:24,907 Speaker 2: In your experience, is it common for teams to play 37 00:02:25,427 --> 00:02:28,227 Speaker 2: and I'm not going to sugarcoat this terribly one week 38 00:02:28,587 --> 00:02:31,907 Speaker 2: and then come out and play far far better than 39 00:02:31,907 --> 00:02:34,787 Speaker 2: next And what causes that? How can the same group 40 00:02:34,827 --> 00:02:37,467 Speaker 2: of players be so different from week to think it 41 00:02:37,547 --> 00:02:39,827 Speaker 2: must be terribly difficult for coaches. 42 00:02:41,027 --> 00:02:43,227 Speaker 3: I like how you've come to the expert not playing 43 00:02:43,387 --> 00:02:49,827 Speaker 3: very well, Piney, But you're right, a professional sport, it's 44 00:02:49,827 --> 00:02:51,787 Speaker 3: a grind. It still is a job, and you can 45 00:02:51,827 --> 00:02:56,427 Speaker 3: get very much into the rhythms of it. So going 46 00:02:56,427 --> 00:02:59,187 Speaker 3: through the motions there's a really bad connotation. But what 47 00:02:59,227 --> 00:03:01,587 Speaker 3: I want the audience to appreciate is that you know, 48 00:03:01,627 --> 00:03:04,907 Speaker 3: there's still very much is, you know, being stuck in 49 00:03:04,947 --> 00:03:07,507 Speaker 3: the rhythm of the job. And from what we heard, 50 00:03:07,587 --> 00:03:11,427 Speaker 3: chiefly obviously didn't like the game last week, but what 51 00:03:11,587 --> 00:03:14,947 Speaker 3: he's really focused on is connecting this football team back 52 00:03:14,987 --> 00:03:17,867 Speaker 3: to the community that they represent and importantly the yellow 53 00:03:17,867 --> 00:03:20,507 Speaker 3: feeds of fans that are so invested he got decide 54 00:03:20,587 --> 00:03:24,547 Speaker 3: to sit in the stands and to appreciate quite literally 55 00:03:24,987 --> 00:03:28,107 Speaker 3: the game from the perspective of the fans. And I 56 00:03:28,267 --> 00:03:31,707 Speaker 3: think in those sorts of experiences for the players there's 57 00:03:31,707 --> 00:03:34,387 Speaker 3: a lot of value because it takes them out of 58 00:03:34,427 --> 00:03:37,707 Speaker 3: the training, out of the minutia of passing the ball, 59 00:03:37,787 --> 00:03:39,947 Speaker 3: working only touch, all that sort of things, and gets 60 00:03:40,027 --> 00:03:43,107 Speaker 3: them to realize that not only do they represent a city, 61 00:03:44,067 --> 00:03:48,107 Speaker 3: but they need to ensure that they reflect the qualities 62 00:03:48,147 --> 00:03:51,267 Speaker 3: and the energy and the investment from the fans, and 63 00:03:51,547 --> 00:03:53,267 Speaker 3: I think that's a really smart move from him. So 64 00:03:53,347 --> 00:03:55,947 Speaker 3: not only was it a reaction after mccafter game, but 65 00:03:56,027 --> 00:03:57,947 Speaker 3: it was also all right, let's get back to who 66 00:03:57,947 --> 00:04:00,747 Speaker 3: we are and what we want to do, and that's 67 00:04:00,947 --> 00:04:03,987 Speaker 3: definitely watch the Phoenix on the front foot. I think, 68 00:04:04,027 --> 00:04:05,107 Speaker 3: well before the ninety. 69 00:04:04,907 --> 00:04:07,627 Speaker 2: Minutes indeed a sign it's a big one. The derby. 70 00:04:07,667 --> 00:04:09,667 Speaker 2: I want to talk about Auckland f C's a game 71 00:04:09,707 --> 00:04:13,187 Speaker 2: this afternoon in a moment, but how crucial was yesterday 72 00:04:13,227 --> 00:04:15,387 Speaker 2: and how how much confidence will the Phoenix take is 73 00:04:15,427 --> 00:04:18,707 Speaker 2: they had to derby number five against Auckland f C. 74 00:04:18,787 --> 00:04:21,507 Speaker 2: They've lost the last four, how much of a springboard 75 00:04:21,547 --> 00:04:22,667 Speaker 2: will yesterday give them? 76 00:04:24,387 --> 00:04:28,947 Speaker 3: I think the performance was the most important aspect yesterday. 77 00:04:28,987 --> 00:04:31,227 Speaker 3: The result was there and that's confidence building, and not 78 00:04:31,307 --> 00:04:34,027 Speaker 3: only does it give you confidence into the derby, but 79 00:04:34,067 --> 00:04:36,467 Speaker 3: it also puts the Phoenix at the moment in the 80 00:04:36,507 --> 00:04:39,187 Speaker 3: top six. So they when they look at the table, 81 00:04:39,307 --> 00:04:44,427 Speaker 3: they all see themselves up around the likes of Sydney FC, 82 00:04:44,987 --> 00:04:48,347 Speaker 3: Auckland's FC and Prisidan Raw So they are still kind 83 00:04:48,347 --> 00:04:52,507 Speaker 3: of attached to that conversation. The other thing to note 84 00:04:53,187 --> 00:04:56,787 Speaker 3: Piney is that the way the Phoenix went about their 85 00:04:56,867 --> 00:05:00,067 Speaker 3: job yesterday, they wanted to get on that front foot. 86 00:05:00,107 --> 00:05:03,147 Speaker 3: As I said before, there was an urgency about their 87 00:05:03,187 --> 00:05:04,987 Speaker 3: game that we haven't seen at times. This is a 88 00:05:05,027 --> 00:05:08,307 Speaker 3: side that has put a lot of stock and controlling matches, 89 00:05:08,827 --> 00:05:11,627 Speaker 3: perhaps being a bit conservative at times. But what we 90 00:05:11,627 --> 00:05:14,467 Speaker 3: saw yesterday was a side that wanted to press, that 91 00:05:14,627 --> 00:05:17,107 Speaker 3: wanted to disrupt, never let Adelaide settle on the ball, 92 00:05:17,587 --> 00:05:21,547 Speaker 3: and those sorts of aspects to the game. Those qualities 93 00:05:21,587 --> 00:05:24,107 Speaker 3: are going to be so instrumental because they will be 94 00:05:24,107 --> 00:05:27,827 Speaker 3: walking into a cauldron at Go Media Stadium next weekend. 95 00:05:28,427 --> 00:05:34,067 Speaker 3: Auckland goed up beats the Phoenix two to one down 96 00:05:34,107 --> 00:05:37,427 Speaker 3: their hometown with nine men, and what we're hearing is 97 00:05:37,427 --> 00:05:39,547 Speaker 3: that there is a think that this is going to 98 00:05:39,587 --> 00:05:42,147 Speaker 3: be the b starvy yet because Auckland wants to make 99 00:05:42,147 --> 00:05:44,867 Speaker 3: a spectacle out of this. We've seen behind the scenes 100 00:05:44,907 --> 00:05:49,267 Speaker 3: that this Auckland management staff prioritize the derby. They want 101 00:05:49,307 --> 00:05:52,867 Speaker 3: to make it a statement. They want to suppress leaning 102 00:05:52,987 --> 00:05:56,467 Speaker 3: some Phoenix and there is a growing sense within the 103 00:05:56,467 --> 00:05:58,747 Speaker 3: Phoenix I think that they really want to land a 104 00:05:58,787 --> 00:06:01,067 Speaker 3: blow publicly. They won't say it. They won't build it 105 00:06:01,147 --> 00:06:03,867 Speaker 3: up too much, but I think privately they want to 106 00:06:03,907 --> 00:06:06,547 Speaker 3: get their own back and this is a great time 107 00:06:06,587 --> 00:06:07,867 Speaker 3: for them to go and do it well. 108 00:06:07,907 --> 00:06:10,267 Speaker 2: They can focus their energy on that. Now for Auckland FC, 109 00:06:10,627 --> 00:06:14,147 Speaker 2: they of course have to negotiate their next assignment, which 110 00:06:14,187 --> 00:06:16,787 Speaker 2: is in just an hour or so when they take 111 00:06:16,827 --> 00:06:20,187 Speaker 2: on Newcastle at go Media Stadium. You know you talk 112 00:06:20,187 --> 00:06:24,507 Speaker 2: about subpar performances. Steve Coriker pulled no punches last week 113 00:06:24,507 --> 00:06:27,347 Speaker 2: when he joined you on the Sky panel after the 114 00:06:27,387 --> 00:06:29,827 Speaker 2: game against Brisbane, even though they came away with a 115 00:06:29,867 --> 00:06:32,787 Speaker 2: one all drawer. He said, this is the worst we've 116 00:06:32,787 --> 00:06:35,507 Speaker 2: played since I've been here, and that's the entire life 117 00:06:35,507 --> 00:06:39,547 Speaker 2: of the club. How likely is a reaction from Auckland 118 00:06:39,627 --> 00:06:42,107 Speaker 2: FC this afternoon to what happened a week ago? 119 00:06:42,827 --> 00:06:46,347 Speaker 3: We've already seen one piney So Marley France, are Jake 120 00:06:46,347 --> 00:06:48,147 Speaker 3: Bremmer and Dan Hall of being introduced to the squad 121 00:06:48,427 --> 00:06:51,387 Speaker 3: and I'll take you behind the scenes. Just rewinding to 122 00:06:51,467 --> 00:06:55,427 Speaker 3: last week, we're on the panel and Steve has very 123 00:06:55,427 --> 00:06:58,187 Speaker 3: clearly delivered a message in the responses to the first 124 00:06:58,227 --> 00:07:01,307 Speaker 3: two questions that we've had, and I thought at that 125 00:07:01,347 --> 00:07:05,427 Speaker 3: point we were moving on, and then in my ears, 126 00:07:06,427 --> 00:07:09,027 Speaker 3: Ju said, Kingsley comes one more question. So I came 127 00:07:09,067 --> 00:07:11,587 Speaker 3: up with something on the spot, got pretty much exactly 128 00:07:11,587 --> 00:07:14,147 Speaker 3: the same response from Steve, which is not happy. There's 129 00:07:14,187 --> 00:07:16,587 Speaker 3: going to be something that's talked about internally and we 130 00:07:16,667 --> 00:07:19,707 Speaker 3: need to be better great and messing blaired Dainty the director. 131 00:07:19,827 --> 00:07:21,867 Speaker 3: Clearly something are going wrong. He's like, hey, guys, just 132 00:07:21,907 --> 00:07:24,467 Speaker 3: one more question. I was like, I can feel the 133 00:07:24,547 --> 00:07:29,547 Speaker 3: heat radiating often guy, I was panning right next to him. 134 00:07:29,907 --> 00:07:33,227 Speaker 3: No more questions, Let him go. Let him go and 135 00:07:33,347 --> 00:07:36,587 Speaker 3: process what he needs to process. But in terms of 136 00:07:36,747 --> 00:07:39,707 Speaker 3: ORCANDESFS and the way they want to play, but me, 137 00:07:39,867 --> 00:07:42,907 Speaker 3: the most important thing today is the press. It is 138 00:07:42,987 --> 00:07:45,627 Speaker 3: how they want to use what is an effect of 139 00:07:45,667 --> 00:07:49,707 Speaker 3: defensive action and weaponize it against Newcastle Jets. And this 140 00:07:49,827 --> 00:07:52,867 Speaker 3: is a side that might play into the teeth of 141 00:07:52,867 --> 00:07:56,267 Speaker 3: that defensive effort, of that energy, of that intention for 142 00:07:56,267 --> 00:07:59,427 Speaker 3: akand f C. The Jets under Mark Milligan are a 143 00:07:59,467 --> 00:08:01,467 Speaker 3: side that do want to play. They want to play short. 144 00:08:02,107 --> 00:08:06,467 Speaker 3: There are shades of Angiposta, Conglu and Mark Milligan and 145 00:08:07,147 --> 00:08:11,067 Speaker 3: they will want to play through whatever is posed by 146 00:08:11,107 --> 00:08:16,267 Speaker 3: Auckland and any means necessary. And that is something that 147 00:08:16,427 --> 00:08:18,787 Speaker 3: I think is going to be a fascinating bat of 148 00:08:18,787 --> 00:08:22,427 Speaker 3: what wins out the press or the commitment to playing 149 00:08:22,787 --> 00:08:24,227 Speaker 3: what will be methodical football. 150 00:08:25,027 --> 00:08:28,387 Speaker 2: Do you think Auckland FC are a better team potentially 151 00:08:28,667 --> 00:08:32,747 Speaker 2: this year than last year roster wise? Having had the 152 00:08:32,827 --> 00:08:36,107 Speaker 2: one season under their belt, they were very very good 153 00:08:36,107 --> 00:08:39,627 Speaker 2: in their maiden season. Could they potentially be a better 154 00:08:39,707 --> 00:08:41,387 Speaker 2: team in season two? 155 00:08:42,867 --> 00:08:47,827 Speaker 3: It's a really interesting question, and I think everyone's perspective 156 00:08:47,907 --> 00:08:52,387 Speaker 3: on this is colored by comparing the Auckland side that 157 00:08:52,467 --> 00:08:55,307 Speaker 3: we came to love and gave us so much excitement 158 00:08:55,307 --> 00:08:58,507 Speaker 3: in the back end of the year to this team 159 00:08:58,547 --> 00:09:00,827 Speaker 3: that is really working its way into the season the 160 00:09:00,987 --> 00:09:04,427 Speaker 3: way through injuries, they've got new recruitment, so there's always 161 00:09:04,427 --> 00:09:09,667 Speaker 3: a phasing imperiod fining. So I think it's largely a 162 00:09:09,707 --> 00:09:14,467 Speaker 3: bit of a It's a bit inaccurate but unreasonable to say, well, 163 00:09:14,507 --> 00:09:16,107 Speaker 3: you know, they're not scoring the goals. There's not that 164 00:09:16,147 --> 00:09:17,867 Speaker 3: fluid football that we saw from them in the back 165 00:09:17,947 --> 00:09:20,107 Speaker 3: end of last season. Take you back to the start 166 00:09:20,147 --> 00:09:24,707 Speaker 3: of last year and this Auckland side we're grinding out results, 167 00:09:24,747 --> 00:09:27,907 Speaker 3: often late into games. I do think that there is 168 00:09:27,907 --> 00:09:32,667 Speaker 3: an element of calibration that isn't there in this Auckland 169 00:09:32,707 --> 00:09:35,667 Speaker 3: team at the moment. They are a different team, let's remember, 170 00:09:35,907 --> 00:09:38,427 Speaker 3: and they are working each other out. They're not playing 171 00:09:38,467 --> 00:09:42,387 Speaker 3: with those two traditional wingers and bombing on. There's not 172 00:09:42,427 --> 00:09:44,947 Speaker 3: necessarily that same level energy through the middle of the park, 173 00:09:45,427 --> 00:09:48,067 Speaker 3: but that's not a bad thing. They're now playing with 174 00:09:48,067 --> 00:09:51,387 Speaker 3: a lopsided attack very much down the left hand side 175 00:09:51,427 --> 00:09:54,107 Speaker 3: Lachlan Brook the right wingers coming inside, and so I 176 00:09:54,227 --> 00:09:56,907 Speaker 3: think it's still working out how this all comes together. 177 00:09:57,787 --> 00:10:00,627 Speaker 3: What I do think we want to see though, is 178 00:10:00,827 --> 00:10:04,627 Speaker 3: a more resolute, certain defensive effort, and I don't think 179 00:10:04,627 --> 00:10:07,627 Speaker 3: we've seen that at times season. There's been a suggestion 180 00:10:08,187 --> 00:10:11,907 Speaker 3: of fragility that we didn't see there last season, and 181 00:10:11,947 --> 00:10:14,547 Speaker 3: I think that's the thing that's perhaps the most frustrating 182 00:10:14,947 --> 00:10:17,227 Speaker 3: Steve in particularly, he didn't mention it last week that 183 00:10:17,627 --> 00:10:21,027 Speaker 3: he felt that they weren't always lock and key type. 184 00:10:22,147 --> 00:10:24,627 Speaker 2: Looking forward to this afternoon's contest Aukland f C against 185 00:10:24,667 --> 00:10:27,507 Speaker 2: the Newcastle Jets three o'clock atd GO Media and then 186 00:10:28,987 --> 00:10:31,507 Speaker 2: a six day wait for Derby number two this season, 187 00:10:31,547 --> 00:10:33,627 Speaker 2: Derby number five and as you say, Jake could be 188 00:10:33,627 --> 00:10:36,467 Speaker 2: the best derby, yet always appreciate your analysis. Thanks for 189 00:10:36,547 --> 00:10:37,787 Speaker 2: joining us. 190 00:10:37,827 --> 00:10:40,707 Speaker 3: Not a problem, mate, and can't wait for this one. 191 00:10:41,027 --> 00:10:42,267 Speaker 3: The whistle to be by on this one and then 192 00:10:42,267 --> 00:10:44,107 Speaker 3: we get to focus on the derby next week, Piney, 193 00:10:44,227 --> 00:10:46,227 Speaker 3: I truly believe this is going to be the best 194 00:10:46,267 --> 00:10:48,827 Speaker 3: money minutes of football that we've seen out of the derbies. 195 00:10:48,867 --> 00:10:51,667 Speaker 2: Well let's hope so mate. I'll hold you of that 196 00:10:51,747 --> 00:10:54,227 Speaker 2: and I certainly hope you're right. And when my experience 197 00:10:54,227 --> 00:10:57,427 Speaker 2: you normally are. Jacob Spoonley joining us with a look 198 00:10:57,467 --> 00:11:01,347 Speaker 2: at football. So Auckland f C against Newcastle this afternoon 199 00:11:01,387 --> 00:11:04,787 Speaker 2: from three o'clock and then derby number two for the 200 00:11:04,867 --> 00:11:08,587 Speaker 2: year is next Saturday, five o'clock at go Media State 201 00:11:08,627 --> 00:11:11,427 Speaker 2: in Aukland FC at home to Wellington Phoenix, who will 202 00:11:11,427 --> 00:11:13,627 Speaker 2: go in with a fair degree of confidence after their 203 00:11:13,667 --> 00:11:15,947 Speaker 2: win over Adelaide United yesterday. 204 00:11:16,747 --> 00:11:19,907 Speaker 1: For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 205 00:11:20,027 --> 00:11:23,307 Speaker 1: to news Talks at b Weekends from midday or follow 206 00:11:23,347 --> 00:11:24,947 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio