October 19, 2025 • 39 mins
Jason Pine and Michael Burgess review the opening weekend of the new A-League men's season.
Auckland FC play out a cagey 0-0 draw with Melbourne Victory with both positives and work-ons.
Meantime, Wellington Phoenix come back from 2-0 down to grab an encouraging 2-2 draw away at Perth Glory.
Plus a recap of the All Whites' 1-1 draw with Norway.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Football Fever, the podcast keeping you up to date with
the beautiful game with the voice of football Jason Pain
and Zen heralds Michael Vergess, powered.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
By News Talk ZBI.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Welcome into Football Fever and we are underway. Round one
of the A League Men's competition is in the books,
with both AUKLANDFC and Wellington Phoenix starting their campaigns. I'm
Jason Pine. Michael Burgess said, busy the whole weekend for you, Burgs,
not just the football but the rugby league to cover
as well. I was wondering whether you might be a
late scratching for the podcast, but here you are here.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
I am, indeed and.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Great to be here again, and there's so much sport
going on, so you never complain. But I always think
it's a good sign. You just mentioned about Week one.
When you get a Week one in the A League
and you get a lot of storylines coming out of it,
it's a really good sign for the season.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
YEP. I totally agree because often there's a lot of hype,
isn't there, especially with it being such a long offseason,
and then maybe Round one can be a bit of
a damp squib. But you're right, there were plenty of
storylines start with Melbourne victory Auckland f C Saturday night,
Neil All at Amy Park. As always with the start
of a new season, club day boos for a number
of players for Auckland f C. Michael vaud, jac goodwould
(01:11):
like Lachland Brook and Sam Cosgrove all made their day boos.
How impressed were you with it as a first round match, Burge,
because we don't ever really know, do we From an
intensity point of view, what did you make of it?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
I thought it was excellent thought.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I thought there was a you know, almost a kind
of finals intensity about it at certain periods, which is
something that both teams will take heart from, but especially
Auckland to go way away to Melbourne, to play in
that cauldron, that environment, and to be able to lift
instantly in some ways back to the levels they were
when I'm say in some ways certainly defensively, I thought
(01:49):
they were excellent most of the match and that's you know,
what defined their campaign in many ways last season. So
good sign, good intensity, a lot plenty of work on
but you know, a hell of a way to start
the season in some ways.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, two teams who I'm sure have designs again on
going deep, and we had a couple of games like
that over the weekend, this one and also the Western
Sydney Melbourne City game where you had four teams you
know who really do have, you know, title credentials going
up against one another. Be interested in your thoughts on
a couple of the new players. Sam Cosgrove has come
in and we spoke a bit about Sam Cosgrove on
(02:26):
the podcast last week. He's a bit of a straight
swap for Max Mutter, but in many ways he's more credentialed.
I just thought I took him a little while to
get into the game Birds. That's not unusual for a
new striker to the A League or a new player
to the A League, but I just I don't know,
he sort of operated on the periphery and just for
me struggled to get into the game. Did what did
(02:46):
you think.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
This? Pheely similar Piney. It's always hard for strikers, isn't it.
It's always hard because they feel like they've got something
to prove straight away.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
He's been a lot of clubs.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
He told me last week interview that he's come here
because he was feeling a bit stale, lost, his love
for football wants to relaunch. So there's a lot going
on in his head and a lot a lot that
he's trying to do and trying to prove. But it
wasn't the big statement performance he would have hoped for.
Probably the bor didn't come.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
His way as well.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
But we'll want to see We'll want to see a
lot more in terms of how he fits in, because
it wasn't completely evident straight away, oh this is how
this is going to work. You were left with quite
a few questions about how they're going to play with
him up top. And also he's a big lad, but
(03:34):
he didn't always feel like he had the presence that
you have of someone his size. So there's a few
things there that need to be worked done, isn't that.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Yeah. Part of that, though, don't you think, is that
Gigi Mamie didn't start the game. He didn't come on
until the sixty eighth minutes. So I think we all
would agree that the front two of Cosgrove and Mai
is going to be the first choice front two, especially initially. Anyway,
Steve Kreker said afterwards that my was still coming back
and wasn't quite ready for a full ninety minutes. Maybe
(04:06):
we'll get to see them start together this coming weekend.
I think Cosgrove went off after ten minutes beyond Myer's arrival,
so they only had ten minutes together, which is nowhere
near big enough for simple size to make an assessment.
But how long do you reckon they will give it?
I mean we shouldn't panic, should we It's only round one,
But they'd have to have half a dozen games together,
wouldn't they to see if they rarely are going to
(04:28):
work as a combo at.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Least, especially considering the fact that you wonder how much
time they've had together in pre season. You know, like
GiMA hasn't been training for that long because he's had
this injury, so you know that, you know what it's like.
The off season is where the combinations are made, and
then the season you sort of build from there. So
if they haven't already had that relationship that strikers and
(04:52):
number ten's need, then that's a work on. That's a
real work on. So they'll be given time. Cosgrove is
a big signing and he has to succeed, and I
think he will, but there's a way to go.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Lachlan Brook got a starting debut as well. I was
quite surprised to see Logan Rogerson on the bench, and
again Steve Corocker afterwards saying that was a selection issue.
That wasn't Logan Rogerson coming back from any sort of injury.
They just went with Brooke and also with Francois Marley.
Francois is a really interesting proposition to me berg I
said this a bit last season. I have yet to
(05:27):
be entirely convinced by him. I understand what they see
in him, the energy that he brings, and you get
flashes from him, but I don't know. I feel like
Rogerson is a more likely starter in this team and
francois your impact player. But Steve Corecker seems to be
all in on Francois as a starting player.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
And I'm completely mystified about that, and I've been mystified
for quite a long time, like you, last season. One
of my biggest nagging what might have been about last season?
Which I'm only going to talk about once because I
end up talking about it every episode and the listeners
that get bored and you'll be like, why is he
going on with this? But I maintain if Nadal Morenos
(06:09):
starts in that second League semi final, we'd be talking
about the A League champions, not because they would have
gone to the Grand finals. What I mean, I think
I think that was such a step. Krak didn't make
many mistakes last year, but last season, but not starting
Moreno in that semi final, starting Francois, who didn't contribute
much that night, brings Morena on the twenty to go.
(06:31):
It was just a real, a real blunder. And yeah,
I just like you, I'm just mystified because I can't
see what he's bringing offensively that has kept him in
the team. And even as I guess it's work great
and everything, but I don't see his work great being
any greater than Rogerson. It's gonna be interesting because Rogerson
(06:53):
delivered so much last season and Brooke has got to play.
They've signed him and he wants to play on the
right obviously and cut in. But can Rogerson really be
kept out of the team by Francois.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I don't think so. I don't think so, and I
don't think that he can. I don't think Randal can
be kept out of the team by Francois either. Yeah,
I think it will be let's just assume it's Cosgrove
and my up top and two other players. You know,
you've got Brooke, You've got Rogerson, You've got Randall, You've
(07:25):
got Gillian, who arguably offers more. I think Franceoi wasn't
a real logjam of players there. And look, I look
back at last season and Steve Coricker was pretty much
all in on Marley Francois from about six weeks out
from the end of the regular season. That's when he
replaced Modano as a starting player and brought him into
more of a bench role. But yeah, maybe there's something
(07:47):
we're not seeing burjeh. I don't know, but you know,
Steve Coreic is not the kind of guy who who
sticks with something if it's not working. So yeah, again,
without one is the labor the point. I think we
need to see a little bit more from from Marley
Francois as the season goes. I quite like the look
of Lockey Brook. I think he's a good acquisition.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah, some nice touches, some really nice touches.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
You can see the confidence, you can see the X
factor he's going to bring, and he's definitely the kind
of player where it will take time for his teammates
to get to know what he's going to do.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
So quite excited about him.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Actually, yeah, me too. The best chance of the game
for Auckland fell to Jesse Randall about half an hour
and from Amalley France by corner. Ironically enough, the ball
fell to him. He was in a slightly unusual position,
wasn't He was only a meter or so out, but
he was kind of facing the wrong way, wasn't he,
And as he turned to try and fire at home,
it went wide. It actually, I think looked worse than
(08:39):
it was because he kind of had to adjust his
body position and a rather unusual way to get the
ball on target.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
It was one of those weird ones that's happened to
all of us and over thirties, over forties. In any
kind of football you play, you know, you get stuck
somewhere you look terrible for missing.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
But actually he was.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Yeah, he was sort of facing he was parallel to
the goal the ball and it looked like it's an
obvious chance, but it was a It was a weird one,
and it was I don't know about you, but it
felt like a weird night for Randall because he really
came into the game a lot in the second half,
and his finishing has always stood out for me. But
(09:15):
he was kind of hitting the keeper a lot, wasn't
He was hitting rather than the corners, and it could
have been quite different.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Yeah, I think he had Auckland FC's best two or
three chances, didn't either one. We just mentioned a couple
of other ones where perhaps he might have done a
little bit better. Other than that, there wasn't really a
lot that I can remember at either end, apart from
the one save that Michael vald made just before halftime
from the Kegan Jeelassic. And that's what we're calling him,
that Kegan Jelassic, the volley to keep it goalless. I
(09:46):
thought Michael vaud did okay, you know, I mean, you
keep a clean sheet. That's all you can do. Really
think is distribution maybe needs a little bit of work,
but he made that one save and the right call
I think you'd save from from Steve Coricker.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
We debated this last week, didn't we how it was
going to be a tricky decision. But this is where
Coriker is really smart. You know, he's been around a
long time and he knows more than us. Obviously, and
because it's the kind of thing that's really good for
the culture of the team. Like he's sort of saying, yeah,
we signed Oli sail, but he's got to earn his
right to be there. We've promised Michael Veld the spot,
(10:22):
and Michael's our man until Olie does that much in
training that he becomes the guy we can't afford not
to pick. Whereas if you've gone the other way, I
think culturally for the team, it would have been something
that would have been felt in the dressing room.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Just on Giziumo Mai and him not being there for
the start, it's just so noticeable birds to me, just
you know, when he came on, he was perhaps a
little bit late in the game, but he did immediately
drop off the line and start to try and link
up play. I mean, Colesgrove isn't that kind of player.
And I didn't see that happen from any of the
other startup either. You know, Randall Brook francois, none of them.
(11:04):
It gives you, in my mind, none of them drop
off the line and link playing the way he does.
He's so integral, isn't he to linking defense with attack
on this team? Yet? You just forget how important he is.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Especially the fact he was signed as someone as a
striker and we just we saw him as a striker
and he's evolved into this is the perfect number ten.
He can he can do it all, the vision, the passing.
It's the reason why was you know, player of the
Year Although as you said, I think at the time,
and I agree with you, I thought Hiroki Sakai probably
deserved that title, but my my integral and then and
(11:38):
then to mention the captain as well another I thought
he was brilliant at times, just some of his I
love watching Sakai play, some of his the intelligence of
some of his touches, both defensively and in the in
the final third.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
We're just wonderful again.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Just before we move on from Auckland FC. One matter
has obviously moved from the Western Sydneys to Melbourne. Victory
had to look back at the stats last year, but
she played twenty three games but only started seven of those.
Just the one goal in those twenty three games. But
he's just got a bit of class about him, hasn't.
He came off in this game as well, off the
bench for the last quarter of the game. You'd be
(12:15):
hoping to see a bit more from One Matter in
the A League this season.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
I mean, how old is he must be? Seven? Yeah, yeah,
But it was because it was strange last year. I
think they were using him as number six a lot,
which was crazy, like trying to get him to you know,
the A League is such a physical league anyway. But
I thought there's some good signs the way Melbourn Victory
are going to use him more as a more as
a ten right up top. He's such a clever, intelligent player,
(12:41):
so it would be good for the league if he
has a really good season, wouldn't it.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Indeed, it would so nil all between Melbourn Victory and
Auckland se Aukland FC now come Home. Round two is
their first home game of the season. They will host
One Matter's old club, the Western Sydney Wanderers, at go
Media Stadium five o'clock on Saturday afternoons Football Fever podcast
with Jason Vain and Michael Burgess and so then we
(13:05):
turned our attention to HbF Park in Perth. Perth Glory
to Wellington Phoenix to the fifth season in a row.
The Phoenix have started the season with a drawer they
had to do it from tonil Dan, can I just
say right from the start here Burgs that after twenty
five thirty minutes of this game, I was ready to
fold this football club. Honestly, I just was watching this
(13:27):
game and I was thinking, what on earth is going
on out there? The high line that the Phoenix were employing,
the regularity and ease with which they were being cut
open by Perth Glory, who were just licking their lips
as they sort of ran through this rather static back line.
I was wondering, what the heck was going on? Can
(13:49):
we address that? But first before we get onto the
good stuff. What were you?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
I think we should? I think we should? It was
absolutely chaos. I mean it was.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
It was entertaining in a way, but it wasn't because
you started to think, holy shit, this is after all
the hope and all the talk, this is just going
to be a disaster. I thought of you, actually, because
I thought of you, you know why, because I could
hear kind of the concern in your voice last week,
because someone who's you know, followed this team for so
long that you were quite uncertain about this season, but
(14:17):
you were hopeful, and I thought, gee, I wonder, what
if you're not going to be thinking now you know
he's gonna he might be going to bed.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Well that was I just about did. I thought, this
can't be. This can't be what we have to endure
for twenty six games. Surely this can't be it. But
as we found out later, Isaac Hughes was a late
scratching with an ankle injury. He was meant to be
part of that back three with man Dracer James, who
I think was actually very good by the way, and
Matt Sheridan Lucas kellyheld came into the back three. He'd
(14:45):
only already just got back from that All Whites trip.
Wasn't really I guess, you know, fully ready for that assignment.
But yeah, it just seemed so naive, didn't it, and
so misguided. But then once they they were two nil
down and they got their act together. I think in
all areas they were pretty good. I was hugely encouraged
(15:09):
by by minutes thirty one to ninety five or whatever
it was, I thought they grew into the game, took
control of the game. The stats will tea you they
had seventy percent of possession played nearly three times as
many passes as Perth Glory did and got themselves back
into the game. So look at too nil down after that,
(15:30):
you know, ridiculousness to start the game. You take the point,
wouldn't you.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
You wouldn't just take the point.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
But I think it's how you get the point, not
just coming back from two nil, but the way they
conceded those goals that's sold destroying. You know, to go
to two nil in the first half hour is always tough,
but to con see goals like that that can really actually.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Break a team.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
You know that I'm talking about breaking a team on
the day on the pitch, but they to dig deep
and come back after that, I think is really encouraging.
I think it shows a a spirit and a hunger
and a fight that bodes well for the season. I
was thinking to myself yesterday that we've seen ninety minutes
of the Phoenix and I already feel more excited about
(16:11):
the impending the Derbies who've got coming up against Talking
Live Seed than I probably did any stage last season,
because last season I was always hopeful the Derbies might
be close, but aside from the first one, but it
never really felt the Phoenix were ready to challenge. But
it's early days. But I saw like you, I saw
some good signs.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, and some hunger too, particularly from new players who
don't have any skin in the Phoenix game. They've just
turned up, the likes of Carlo Amiento man Draker James.
I find is these guys don't have any allegiance to
this club. They've just arrived, and so any performance they
put on initially anyway, is as much about their own
professional pride as it is pride and the badge that
(16:54):
they're wearing on their chest. But I thought those guys
were all really really good, especially someone like Armiento who's
been around for a while. He's kind of jumped around
a couple of different clubs without ever really securing a place.
Remy Nazerene the same, and Draker James has got a
CV which is almost as long as Sam Cosgroves. But
I know, I thought they all kind of looked like
(17:17):
the club meant something to them at too nil down.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
The club meant something to them, and they all, you know,
believe in each other, They want to do well for
each other. There's obviously a bond there which you either
have or you don't. And when you don't have it,
it's really hard, but to have it. This is basically
I mean, this is a new team, isn't it. You
know if you think about the amount of the turnover,
so I don't know. I mean you must be really encouraged.
(17:44):
I mean, were you surprised in some ways by the performance?
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Yep, I was. I will freely admit I was, particularly
after the first half hour. And I don't want to
dwel too much on that, but that's the only frame
of reference we had. It could easily have gone south
after that. Bird know, they could have let two or
three more. In fact, they think they had another one
on the back of the net, didn't they. Pert It
was almost yes, Reenil saved by the assistant referee flag,
which was the right decision, But it was just another
(18:10):
example of how they were so easily opened up in
the first half hour. But that, yeah, the second half.
I mean, the goal by Isa is a really good goal. Nagasawa,
who had a good game I thought, plays this ball through,
has got a lot to do. When that ball has
played to him, he's got to bring it down. He's
got to beat Brian Keltak, who's one of the better
defenders going around the A League and then from a
tight angle on his less preferredoot, he's got to chip
(18:31):
a past the keeper. It's a great goal that It.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Was an amazing goal, and especially when I realized it
was his less preferred foot, because how do you do
that on your other foot. It's like the composure of
the finish, the fact that's his first A League game
for the club. I mean, there was it was an
interesting display by him, but I like the way he moves.
He's got plenty of energy, he's got pace, he's got strength.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
He went down to it. He's on occasion. Yeah, well
you know.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
The strikers, but sometimes he didn't know what run he
was going to make, but the defenders don't do though.
I guess the interesting thing will be as teams start
to analyze him over the next few weeks. But as
a signing that you know, was completely just a shot
in the dark, it's it's positive. It's really positive.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
I've heard a lot of mixed reports on is A.
Before Saturday night, I hadn't seen him play really apart
from those Australia Cup games, and there was nothing that
already jumped out at you. But look, I think he
proved that he can be a real handful for opposition defenses.
I think, you say, maybe part of the secret sources
the fact that he doesn't really know what he's going
(19:47):
to do from from minute to minute, but man, I
think he is going to get opposition defenders thinking. Armiento
impressed me as well, and Chief he said afterwards that
he believes that Armiento is one of the more exciting
signings He's made. That finish at the far post. It's
not an easy finish either the ball's arriving, it's you know,
I've seen guys like you know, Blaze that over or
(20:09):
missed the target, but it's a share footed finish. Again,
it just felt like it kind of meant something to
Carlo Armiento. I know it's easy to say when you've
scored a goal and you're bit pumped up, but yeah,
I think there was some some really really encouraging signs.
I'm not sure about Corbyn Piper coming on, and we
talked about this last week. I know he's a versatile player.
(20:31):
I still believe Corbyn Piper's best place to center back
if it's Hughes Piper James. I really quite like that
as a back three. I don't know whether we're going
to see it, but Piper feels like a defender to me.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
He's definitely a defender, I guess.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
But are you comfortable that he's that he's technically the
right player to be starting ahead of some.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Of the others.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Yep, yeah, I am. I know that's he's perhaps not
as sure on the balls as perhaps a Sheridan, for example,
but I just think he adds that robust quality that
that you kind of need from from those in the
back comand I think man Draker James had it. You know,
he's not the he's not the quickest player going around,
but there was one occasion in the second half when
he went stride for stride with Adam Taggart, you know,
(21:16):
and and muscled them off the ball, you know, one
of the A League's premier strikers, as he was looking
to make in roads. So yeah, I think you can,
especially with a back three, I think you can kind
of compensate because you've got the wing backs dropping in
paying and Armiento, so it's not like you're going to
be utterly exposed. Yeah. So that's a long window way
of saying that that I'd be playing Corp and Piper
(21:38):
in the back three. I don't think Chief he will,
but that's what I'd be doing.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Another question as someone who's played, because you've played a
lot as a defender, so I mean, what can you
do do you persist with this high line, especially against
the the better teams?
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Such a good such a good question. I think if
Chief he is the kind of coach I think who
goes all in on things. I think if I think
if he's going to do it, he's all in on it.
So I think the answer is probably yes, and I
think that's probably the right approach, given the fact that
you don't want to be saying from week to week, Okay,
are we playing the high line today or are we not?
Because they've got X, Y and Z. If you buy
(22:20):
into the system, then you buy into the system. I
would like to see them perhaps open their body position
up a little bit. Of these guys have be ready
for the ball over the top. Look, teams are going
to teams are going to try and find ways of
combating it, and there are a lot better teams in
the A League than Perth. Glory, Kocharski and Tagg are
good strikers, But there are a lot of good teams
around who will exploit that highlight, just like it was
what angshtid, wasn't it for Tottenham Anshboster Cochlo at Tottenham
(22:43):
he played this incredibly high line and it just seems
so obvious. Okay, the way to combat is you put
a ball over the top and have a couple of
nippy strikers running through. But having said that, in the
second half Kocharski and Tag it seem pretty well contained.
So look, if they got the hang of it after
thirty minutes, then I'm looking forward to seeing how it
looks after six games.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Burge Well, I just think of Spur as a good example,
but also Liverpool Manchester City. They've had their issues with
the high line at times, and they are teams that
have been together for years and have so much time together.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
So it's a challenging way to play.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
But it feels like if you get it right in
front of the back three, then you're fine. If you've
got to get your press right, you've got to get
all those things working well and then it's less of
an issue.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
And I guess the other thing is risky, but it's exciting.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Yeah, it is. And it does allow you if teams
press on and try and beat your high line, allows
you to, if you have possession of the ball, to
perhaps pass through them. And I guess that's the point also,
and I means as goal again, Agasawa gets the ball
in a good position, plays that pass.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
I'm sure the things are all related and I'm sure
we'll see more of it. So Yeah, to answer the question,
I think Chief he is all in it. I think
they'll continue to play it until until he decides that
it's not getting him the results that he's after. For
the Phoenix, they host Brisbane Raw at Sky Stadium three
o'clock on Sunday, that's Labor Weekend Sunday, of course, for
the first home game for the Phoenix. Other our one games,
(24:09):
Adelaid beat Sydney two to one. Already the pressure growing
on Ofook Talley at Sydney FC. Brisbane one, Albiner is
over MacArthur. One will draw between the Wanders and Melbourne City,
with Costa Barbarussa scoring on his Wanderer's debut. And this
crazy game yesterday Maron is three Newcastle two. It's two
all in the ninety seventh minute when a penalty's awarded
(24:31):
to Newcastle, Andrew Redmains saves it, the Mariners go down
the other end of Nicolas Duarte scores a winner sixty
seconds later. Absolutely bonkers finished to the F three derby.
So you say, but you know the first round delivered
in all sorts of different ways.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Oh, it did, and that was brilliant.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
I haven't seen anything like that, apart from there was
a game a few years ago, what was it, a
promotion game with Watford, and it was a similar thing.
A penalty saved at one end, go down the other end,
a score in the ninety seventh minute. But I it's
perfect for that to happen in the derby, isn't it,
When you've got both sets of fans there. And it
was absolutely brilliant. But you'd be you'd be absolutely sick
(25:09):
to lose that way, wouldn't you.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Oh you what if your Newcastle? You know you've gone
to your biggest rivals, You've got a penalty right at
the end. You think we score this and we can
go away happy and with three points. But not to
be the Mariners, who I think a lot of people
picked us. Wooden spooners Underway with three points on opening weekend.
Good balls ever with Jason Paine and Michael Burgess. Let's
go to the All Whites. When we spoke last week
(25:32):
they had the one that all lost to Poland. In
the time since they've drawn one all with Norway. This
was a much improved performance, wasn't it the second game
of this international window.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Well, if we stop and think you're playing Norway world
number thirty one. I know they're missing a couple of players,
but they are ahead of Italy and their World Cup
qualifying group. They are a real team. They've been a
real team for a few years, you know, real, a
real prospect, and I think the awards are probably the
had a team for the opening fifty to fifty five,
maybe even the opening hour.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
So it's remarkable.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Yeah, And to score the golf and Sermon putting his
body on the line to put New Zealand one nill ahead.
They had a chance, or a couple of chances, didn't
They to make it too Ben Old with a diving
header which the keeper parried away across Cameman and Chris
Wood couldn't quite get there to make it too nil. Yeah,
I thought they were very very good. Norway scored a
(26:26):
goal to make it one all. But I just want
to ask you about a couple of players. One is
Alex Paulson and Gold he played both games in this window.
Darren Baisley has been very loyal to Max Crocum, as
we mentioned last week on the podcast. This time around
he played Alex Paulson in both games. Even with Max
crokem in this squad. Can you see Alex Paulson being
(26:47):
dislodged now as number one?
Speaker 2 (26:50):
It'll be hard. It will be hard because he was
he was excellent.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
He was good against Poland and then really good against
Norway and a he's pretty blameless for the goal they
conceded in an intense game, in a game where it
was a real test. So you know, if you're picking
on form and the fact he's going to be playing
every week in Poland, we could look back on that
as Paulson's moment. I assume Crokan will get another chance.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Will he get another chance for the World Cup. I
assume he will. There's quite a few matches to go.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Yeah, I don't know, maybe not. You're right, there are
a lot of matches to go, but then again, there
aren't aren't you know, a dozen matches to go, But
they've got a window in November, then one in March,
and then maybe a game or two before the World Cup.
Well that's only six games, so maybe maybe you know
you say okay to use this phrase again. We're all
in on Alex Paulson and I think that's probably the
(27:44):
long term scenario. Burch isn't. Alex Paulson is a tremendous goalkeeper.
I think he is the long term number one, and
I feel like you'll be pretty hard to dislodge Max Croik.
I'm not getting a heck of a lot of games either,
although I did note he made his Championship debut for
Millwall over the weekend. He's only been playing Cup games
up till now, but he did play in the Championship
(28:06):
over the weekend and they won two one. So look,
if he gets to run a games, he keeps the
pressure on. I think it's a nice problem for Bays
to have, isn't it a couple of high quality keepers.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
It's great. It's a great, great situation to be in.
Crokum will now have a point to prove and really
want to push. They'll push each other at training, all
that kind of thing. But yeah, the gut feeling is
that Porson's probably got the slightly highest ceiling and there's
just something about him. He just makes crucial says at
crucial times, you know, he just gets he gets things
in the way, and when he's in goal, even though
(28:36):
he's not actually the biggest keeper, he seems to be
incredibly hard to beat.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
He's also I've noticed a lot better with his feet now,
and that just comes from experience, doesn't it. But the
balls play back to him, he's trapping it and passing
the ball with both feet, you know, whichever side it
comes to. He's comfortable trapping it, and the sounds obvious.
They're professional players, but I've seen goalkeepers can't do it,
you know. And he just looks comfortable ball at feet now,
which is another string to his bow. Playing every week
(29:02):
in poland clearly high on confidence. So yeah, I wonder
when they get together for the next window against Columbia
and Equit or whether it will be Alex Pawson. I
guess we'll find out. The other guy I'm interested to
hear thoughts on is Michael Boxell. I think we can
all agree the future center back pairing for New Zealand
is likely to be long term anyway, Finn Sermon and
Tyler Binden. And even though Michael Boxell is you know,
(29:25):
around the same age as one Mata, he's still to
me is looking a very assured defender, very fits, very composed.
I just wonder whether our Best eleven has Michael Boxel
on it.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Well, Michael Boxel is a I was going to say
medical marvel, but that's the wrong term. But he's a
physical marvel. You know, they're starting to get sort of
Maldini vibes about him, the fact that he's not aging.
I remember reading about Asi Milan and Maldini and they've
got this crazy set up I think near Lake Como,
where they and the players sleep there, they stay there,
there's got all sort sort of things to look after
(30:01):
their health. So it's something completely extreme. But I don't
know what Michael Boxel does, but he isn't really aging.
And to be a center back and be trying to
keep up with strikers and you're thirty seven years old
and you're still keeping up is absolutely remarkable.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
I think it was quite instructional that the game against
Australia at go Media, we saw Binden and Sermon start
together box he played in Canberra and he played again
in this game against Norway. I don't know, birds, they
just feel more secure with him and the team, you know.
And yeah, you're right, medical Marvel, you know, completely completely ageless.
(30:44):
But yeah, I just wonder whether one or both, or sorry,
one of Sermon or Bindel that just have to bide
their time. Sermon's looking good though. I like the way
he's playing. Geez a very different prospect from the from
the young Academy Phoenix ployer he used to see running
around he looked, but look looked a bit like ban
beyond Ice when he first started playing. Fully committed, but
you know, just wasn't sure of his body. I don't
(31:04):
think he looks a very very good defender now well
he does.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
He's got so much about him he I think I
was reading somewhere today. He's just been voted the supporters
Player of the Year at Portland, which is saying something.
He's the youngest ever captain. I mean, he's going places
because he's another defender with it. He's just got a
knack for being in the right place at the right time,
I think he was third and then less for blocks
(31:31):
and clearances this season, growing in confidence and there's just
without without high beings up too much. He's just starting
to remind me a lot of Ryan Nelson. He's a
leader at a young age. He can seem to grow
with every challenge. He knows where to be on a
football field.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
The way he.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Popped up with that goal. I mean, there's it's very
exciting to have a guy that young doing so well.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Yeah, in midfield, Ben Old, Ryan Thomas, preach sing, Marco Staminich,
Matt Garb. But gee, there are some good players going around.
How good does it have having Ryan Thomas back though?
To talk about a touch of class?
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Yeah, I mean it's funny because we I don't know
that it felt that we almost all of us forgot
about him to a degree because it was a period
where I don't know what you thought, but I was
starting to think maybe he'll actually never come back to
the All Whites, you know how it dragged on so long? Ye,
But now he's back, he suddenly feels like one of
the most indispensable players in the squad.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Yeah, I think he's rusted on starter now, having just
come back and clearly he hasn't lost any of his class.
I was like you, but I wondered whether we would
see him again. He just seemed to be so unlucky
with injuries, and then you know, as it's probably natural
when you come back from injury, sulic. I just want
to get some club games under my belt because Darren
Batesy was always in touch with him over the last
year to eighteen months and finally he said yes, came
(32:53):
back in and has a missed beat, soar preach things
interesting to me. He still is the player who can
do what no other player in New Zealand colors can do.
I don't know, I'd love some more consistency from Sapred.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
I guess, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
He's a player that I think we're indicating he's got
that vision, he can play that pass. He's a player
that they all whites need. But he needs to be
more consistent and at times it does overdo the extra touch,
the recycling, maybe dwells a bit instead of playing a
(33:31):
bit more direct or certainly a bit more through the line.
So there's a bit to work on. I guess he's
still getting his confidence back physically and mentally, but you
want him inform next German June, and then he can
really he can really be a difference maker. But it's
getting interesting because who is our best midfield? I mean,
(33:52):
like you've, like we've just been saying, it feels like
you've got to start to build this midfield around Royn Thomas. Yeah,
because he's the most capable.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Yeah. I don't even mentioned Bell. He missed these two
games through injury. He's been a rock there. So here
we got Staminich, Bell, Thomas, Old Sing, Garbet Rufer. You
know there's a we're at the point where we're good players.
I know we're near the eleven now that I think
(34:19):
that's where we're going to find ourselves.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
I mean, where would where would you play Ryan Thomas.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
I'd play them in an eight. I like Starminich in
that sixth role. I kind of like the idea of
a of a bit of a diamond where where Staminich sits,
Thomas and Garbett are further forward, and Sing is in
the ten with Chris Wood up top and one player
off him rather than the two white guys. I like,
(34:48):
do you like Thomas a bit deeper?
Speaker 2 (34:50):
No? No, I don't.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
I because because the reason I asked you because when
we talked to Ryan Thomas before the Australia series and
he said, oh, I can't do what I used to do.
I'm more of a box to box guy and I'm
defend to midfield my club. But I think he can
do what he used to do. And I think on
the ball, he's the best in the team. He's got
the quickest feet and he's the guy you want near
the penalty area. He's the guy that can play the
(35:12):
one twos and you know so actually he needs to
be as far forward as practically possible because he's the
guy that can unlock things. And your second point, I'm
so glad you said it. He's got to be someone
off Chris Wood. I'm really getting a little bit frustrated
with this persistence just to stick with the basic front
(35:33):
three and essentially two wingers, when I think every opposition
coach loves it when it's just Chris Wood up front
and they can put two defenders on him. We've got
a gem. We've got a gem in our hands, a
guy at the peak of his powers playing in the
Premier League, and we've got to make sure we make
the most of it.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Yeah, absolutely, more discussion on that in the weeks and
months ahead. Next up for the All Whites Big Test.
A couple of South African sides are South American sides,
my apologies and good ones too. Columbia the world number
thirteen and Equid or the world number twenty three. In
the November window now, Ecuador was second and Columbia third
in South American World Cup qualifying. We know how how
(36:11):
you know competitive that as Argentina won that group. Ecuador
and Columbia both ahead of Uruguay, both ahead of Brazil.
These are good teams. And look, we don't play South
American teams very often, but it's a great window for
New Zealand, isn't it? Because who knows who's coming out
of those pots in December? As our World Cup opponents.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
I really love the way the arrangers schedule. You know,
they've they've done it so well to play this variety
of teams and super competitive teams. And like you say,
how good most Ecuador and Columbia b and there's no
half messages with South American teams. They will be full throttle.
They keep the ball so well it's it's going to
be a really tough challenge.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Yeah, looking forward to those games in November. Just a
word of the football ferns as well. They are in
camp at the moment as they look forward to two
matches against Mexico the Friday and Monday of Labor weekend
and then a match against the United States as well.
So we'll keep an eye on our football ferns too.
That is football Fever Today. Quick predictions for the weekend birds.
You think both Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix can
(37:12):
can get the points against Western Sydney and Brisbane respectively
at home.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Aucklandf se obviously have a much tougher assignment and both
teams will want to get the points because they need
that early statement. But this shows how different this season
could be for Auckland because they lose all season last year,
one game at home regular season. That's right Western United
wasn't it, So you know they could be in danger
of I mean Western Sydney.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
You tip them to win it. They're they're they're bloody good.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
But yeah, you'd hope that Auckland back at home full
strength team virtually will do the business and Wellington got
to be confident. But Brisbane, I mean how do you
see that match, piney, because Brisbane obviously are a much
better side from last season.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Yep, they are, and they and physical too. I think
Michael Vacanis has got them playing in a fairly robust fashion.
There you go, it's the euphemism all use. Look, they
are unapologetic about it, and I think they'll come to
Wellington with confidence after all winning their first game. I
didn't see a lot that will frighten Wellington. I'm sure
(38:13):
Jian Collo Wi Taliano. We'll have a look at the
tape and then I think feed off the confidence that
Wellington got from that first up draw against Perth from
too nil down. So yeah, I mean, and it would
be a real boost to them if they could, you know,
in their first home game, get or when, get the
season going and feed off that momentum and start getting
the fans back on side as well, because as we
(38:34):
mentioned last week, it was a pretty it was pretty
disillusioned fan base by the time the season wound down
at the back end of last year. Good to have
the new season here. We can figure it all about
that now, we can forget about the first thirty minutes
on Saturday night as well. Hopefully never see that again.
Give us all heart failure, bir It's great to see
you mate, thanks for stopping in. We'll see you again
next week.
Speaker 2 (38:53):
Yeah, definitely mate.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Football football weaver
Speaker 3 (39:04):
M h i
Football Fever, the podcast keeping you up to date with
the beautiful game with the voice of football Jason Pain
and Zen heralds Michael Vergess, powered.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
By News Talk ZBI.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Welcome into Football Fever and we are underway. Round one
of the A League Men's competition is in the books,
with both AUKLANDFC and Wellington Phoenix starting their campaigns. I'm
Jason Pine. Michael Burgess said, busy the whole weekend for you, Burgs,
not just the football but the rugby league to cover
as well. I was wondering whether you might be a
late scratching for the podcast, but here you are here.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
I am, indeed and.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Great to be here again, and there's so much sport
going on, so you never complain. But I always think
it's a good sign. You just mentioned about Week one.
When you get a Week one in the A League
and you get a lot of storylines coming out of it,
it's a really good sign for the season.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
YEP. I totally agree because often there's a lot of hype,
isn't there, especially with it being such a long offseason,
and then maybe Round one can be a bit of
a damp squib. But you're right, there were plenty of
storylines start with Melbourne victory Auckland f C Saturday night,
Neil All at Amy Park. As always with the start
of a new season, club day boos for a number
of players for Auckland f C. Michael vaud, jac goodwould
(01:11):
like Lachland Brook and Sam Cosgrove all made their day boos.
How impressed were you with it as a first round match, Burge,
because we don't ever really know, do we From an
intensity point of view, what did you make of it?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
I thought it was excellent thought.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I thought there was a you know, almost a kind
of finals intensity about it at certain periods, which is
something that both teams will take heart from, but especially
Auckland to go way away to Melbourne, to play in
that cauldron, that environment, and to be able to lift
instantly in some ways back to the levels they were
when I'm say in some ways certainly defensively, I thought
(01:49):
they were excellent most of the match and that's you know,
what defined their campaign in many ways last season. So
good sign, good intensity, a lot plenty of work on
but you know, a hell of a way to start
the season in some ways.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, two teams who I'm sure have designs again on
going deep, and we had a couple of games like
that over the weekend, this one and also the Western
Sydney Melbourne City game where you had four teams you
know who really do have, you know, title credentials going
up against one another. Be interested in your thoughts on
a couple of the new players. Sam Cosgrove has come
in and we spoke a bit about Sam Cosgrove on
(02:26):
the podcast last week. He's a bit of a straight
swap for Max Mutter, but in many ways he's more credentialed.
I just thought I took him a little while to
get into the game Birds. That's not unusual for a
new striker to the A League or a new player
to the A League, but I just I don't know,
he sort of operated on the periphery and just for
me struggled to get into the game. Did what did
(02:46):
you think.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
This? Pheely similar Piney. It's always hard for strikers, isn't it.
It's always hard because they feel like they've got something
to prove straight away.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
He's been a lot of clubs.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
He told me last week interview that he's come here
because he was feeling a bit stale, lost, his love
for football wants to relaunch. So there's a lot going
on in his head and a lot a lot that
he's trying to do and trying to prove. But it
wasn't the big statement performance he would have hoped for.
Probably the bor didn't come.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
His way as well.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
But we'll want to see We'll want to see a
lot more in terms of how he fits in, because
it wasn't completely evident straight away, oh this is how
this is going to work. You were left with quite
a few questions about how they're going to play with
him up top. And also he's a big lad, but
(03:34):
he didn't always feel like he had the presence that
you have of someone his size. So there's a few
things there that need to be worked done, isn't that.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Yeah. Part of that, though, don't you think, is that
Gigi Mamie didn't start the game. He didn't come on
until the sixty eighth minutes. So I think we all
would agree that the front two of Cosgrove and Mai
is going to be the first choice front two, especially initially. Anyway,
Steve Kreker said afterwards that my was still coming back
and wasn't quite ready for a full ninety minutes. Maybe
(04:06):
we'll get to see them start together this coming weekend.
I think Cosgrove went off after ten minutes beyond Myer's arrival,
so they only had ten minutes together, which is nowhere
near big enough for simple size to make an assessment.
But how long do you reckon they will give it?
I mean we shouldn't panic, should we It's only round one,
But they'd have to have half a dozen games together,
wouldn't they to see if they rarely are going to
(04:28):
work as a combo at.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Least, especially considering the fact that you wonder how much
time they've had together in pre season. You know, like
GiMA hasn't been training for that long because he's had
this injury, so you know that, you know what it's like.
The off season is where the combinations are made, and
then the season you sort of build from there. So
if they haven't already had that relationship that strikers and
(04:52):
number ten's need, then that's a work on. That's a
real work on. So they'll be given time. Cosgrove is
a big signing and he has to succeed, and I
think he will, but there's a way to go.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Lachlan Brook got a starting debut as well. I was
quite surprised to see Logan Rogerson on the bench, and
again Steve Corocker afterwards saying that was a selection issue.
That wasn't Logan Rogerson coming back from any sort of injury.
They just went with Brooke and also with Francois Marley.
Francois is a really interesting proposition to me berg I
said this a bit last season. I have yet to
(05:27):
be entirely convinced by him. I understand what they see
in him, the energy that he brings, and you get
flashes from him, but I don't know. I feel like
Rogerson is a more likely starter in this team and
francois your impact player. But Steve Corecker seems to be
all in on Francois as a starting player.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
And I'm completely mystified about that, and I've been mystified
for quite a long time, like you, last season. One
of my biggest nagging what might have been about last season?
Which I'm only going to talk about once because I
end up talking about it every episode and the listeners
that get bored and you'll be like, why is he
going on with this? But I maintain if Nadal Morenos
(06:09):
starts in that second League semi final, we'd be talking
about the A League champions, not because they would have
gone to the Grand finals. What I mean, I think
I think that was such a step. Krak didn't make
many mistakes last year, but last season, but not starting
Moreno in that semi final, starting Francois, who didn't contribute
much that night, brings Morena on the twenty to go.
(06:31):
It was just a real, a real blunder. And yeah,
I just like you, I'm just mystified because I can't
see what he's bringing offensively that has kept him in
the team. And even as I guess it's work great
and everything, but I don't see his work great being
any greater than Rogerson. It's gonna be interesting because Rogerson
(06:53):
delivered so much last season and Brooke has got to play.
They've signed him and he wants to play on the
right obviously and cut in. But can Rogerson really be
kept out of the team by Francois.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I don't think so. I don't think so, and I
don't think that he can. I don't think Randal can
be kept out of the team by Francois either. Yeah,
I think it will be let's just assume it's Cosgrove
and my up top and two other players. You know,
you've got Brooke, You've got Rogerson, You've got Randall, You've
(07:25):
got Gillian, who arguably offers more. I think Franceoi wasn't
a real logjam of players there. And look, I look
back at last season and Steve Coricker was pretty much
all in on Marley Francois from about six weeks out
from the end of the regular season. That's when he
replaced Modano as a starting player and brought him into
more of a bench role. But yeah, maybe there's something
(07:47):
we're not seeing burjeh. I don't know, but you know,
Steve Coreic is not the kind of guy who who
sticks with something if it's not working. So yeah, again,
without one is the labor the point. I think we
need to see a little bit more from from Marley
Francois as the season goes. I quite like the look
of Lockey Brook. I think he's a good acquisition.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah, some nice touches, some really nice touches.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
You can see the confidence, you can see the X
factor he's going to bring, and he's definitely the kind
of player where it will take time for his teammates
to get to know what he's going to do.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
So quite excited about him.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Actually, yeah, me too. The best chance of the game
for Auckland fell to Jesse Randall about half an hour
and from Amalley France by corner. Ironically enough, the ball
fell to him. He was in a slightly unusual position,
wasn't He was only a meter or so out, but
he was kind of facing the wrong way, wasn't he,
And as he turned to try and fire at home,
it went wide. It actually, I think looked worse than
(08:39):
it was because he kind of had to adjust his
body position and a rather unusual way to get the
ball on target.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
It was one of those weird ones that's happened to
all of us and over thirties, over forties. In any
kind of football you play, you know, you get stuck
somewhere you look terrible for missing.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
But actually he was.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Yeah, he was sort of facing he was parallel to
the goal the ball and it looked like it's an
obvious chance, but it was a It was a weird one,
and it was I don't know about you, but it
felt like a weird night for Randall because he really
came into the game a lot in the second half,
and his finishing has always stood out for me. But
(09:15):
he was kind of hitting the keeper a lot, wasn't
He was hitting rather than the corners, and it could
have been quite different.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Yeah, I think he had Auckland FC's best two or
three chances, didn't either one. We just mentioned a couple
of other ones where perhaps he might have done a
little bit better. Other than that, there wasn't really a
lot that I can remember at either end, apart from
the one save that Michael vald made just before halftime
from the Kegan Jeelassic. And that's what we're calling him,
that Kegan Jelassic, the volley to keep it goalless. I
(09:46):
thought Michael vaud did okay, you know, I mean, you
keep a clean sheet. That's all you can do. Really
think is distribution maybe needs a little bit of work,
but he made that one save and the right call
I think you'd save from from Steve Coricker.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
We debated this last week, didn't we how it was
going to be a tricky decision. But this is where
Coriker is really smart. You know, he's been around a
long time and he knows more than us. Obviously, and
because it's the kind of thing that's really good for
the culture of the team. Like he's sort of saying, yeah,
we signed Oli sail, but he's got to earn his
right to be there. We've promised Michael Veld the spot,
(10:22):
and Michael's our man until Olie does that much in
training that he becomes the guy we can't afford not
to pick. Whereas if you've gone the other way, I
think culturally for the team, it would have been something
that would have been felt in the dressing room.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Just on Giziumo Mai and him not being there for
the start, it's just so noticeable birds to me, just
you know, when he came on, he was perhaps a
little bit late in the game, but he did immediately
drop off the line and start to try and link
up play. I mean, Colesgrove isn't that kind of player.
And I didn't see that happen from any of the
other startup either. You know, Randall Brook francois, none of them.
(11:04):
It gives you, in my mind, none of them drop
off the line and link playing the way he does.
He's so integral, isn't he to linking defense with attack
on this team? Yet? You just forget how important he is.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Especially the fact he was signed as someone as a
striker and we just we saw him as a striker
and he's evolved into this is the perfect number ten.
He can he can do it all, the vision, the passing.
It's the reason why was you know, player of the
Year Although as you said, I think at the time,
and I agree with you, I thought Hiroki Sakai probably
deserved that title, but my my integral and then and
(11:38):
then to mention the captain as well another I thought
he was brilliant at times, just some of his I
love watching Sakai play, some of his the intelligence of
some of his touches, both defensively and in the in
the final third.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
We're just wonderful again.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Just before we move on from Auckland FC. One matter
has obviously moved from the Western Sydneys to Melbourne. Victory
had to look back at the stats last year, but
she played twenty three games but only started seven of those.
Just the one goal in those twenty three games. But
he's just got a bit of class about him, hasn't.
He came off in this game as well, off the
bench for the last quarter of the game. You'd be
(12:15):
hoping to see a bit more from One Matter in
the A League this season.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
I mean, how old is he must be? Seven? Yeah, yeah,
But it was because it was strange last year. I
think they were using him as number six a lot,
which was crazy, like trying to get him to you know,
the A League is such a physical league anyway. But
I thought there's some good signs the way Melbourn Victory
are going to use him more as a more as
a ten right up top. He's such a clever, intelligent player,
(12:41):
so it would be good for the league if he
has a really good season, wouldn't it.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Indeed, it would so nil all between Melbourn Victory and
Auckland se Aukland FC now come Home. Round two is
their first home game of the season. They will host
One Matter's old club, the Western Sydney Wanderers, at go
Media Stadium five o'clock on Saturday afternoons Football Fever podcast
with Jason Vain and Michael Burgess and so then we
(13:05):
turned our attention to HbF Park in Perth. Perth Glory
to Wellington Phoenix to the fifth season in a row.
The Phoenix have started the season with a drawer they
had to do it from tonil Dan, can I just
say right from the start here Burgs that after twenty
five thirty minutes of this game, I was ready to
fold this football club. Honestly, I just was watching this
(13:27):
game and I was thinking, what on earth is going
on out there? The high line that the Phoenix were employing,
the regularity and ease with which they were being cut
open by Perth Glory, who were just licking their lips
as they sort of ran through this rather static back line.
I was wondering, what the heck was going on? Can
(13:49):
we address that? But first before we get onto the
good stuff. What were you?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
I think we should? I think we should? It was
absolutely chaos. I mean it was.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
It was entertaining in a way, but it wasn't because
you started to think, holy shit, this is after all
the hope and all the talk, this is just going
to be a disaster. I thought of you, actually, because
I thought of you, you know why, because I could
hear kind of the concern in your voice last week,
because someone who's you know, followed this team for so
long that you were quite uncertain about this season, but
(14:17):
you were hopeful, and I thought, gee, I wonder, what
if you're not going to be thinking now you know
he's gonna he might be going to bed.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Well that was I just about did. I thought, this
can't be. This can't be what we have to endure
for twenty six games. Surely this can't be it. But
as we found out later, Isaac Hughes was a late
scratching with an ankle injury. He was meant to be
part of that back three with man Dracer James, who
I think was actually very good by the way, and
Matt Sheridan Lucas kellyheld came into the back three. He'd
(14:45):
only already just got back from that All Whites trip.
Wasn't really I guess, you know, fully ready for that assignment.
But yeah, it just seemed so naive, didn't it, and
so misguided. But then once they they were two nil
down and they got their act together. I think in
all areas they were pretty good. I was hugely encouraged
(15:09):
by by minutes thirty one to ninety five or whatever
it was, I thought they grew into the game, took
control of the game. The stats will tea you they
had seventy percent of possession played nearly three times as
many passes as Perth Glory did and got themselves back
into the game. So look at too nil down after that,
(15:30):
you know, ridiculousness to start the game. You take the point,
wouldn't you.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
You wouldn't just take the point.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
But I think it's how you get the point, not
just coming back from two nil, but the way they
conceded those goals that's sold destroying. You know, to go
to two nil in the first half hour is always tough,
but to con see goals like that that can really actually.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Break a team.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
You know that I'm talking about breaking a team on
the day on the pitch, but they to dig deep
and come back after that, I think is really encouraging.
I think it shows a a spirit and a hunger
and a fight that bodes well for the season. I
was thinking to myself yesterday that we've seen ninety minutes
of the Phoenix and I already feel more excited about
(16:11):
the impending the Derbies who've got coming up against Talking
Live Seed than I probably did any stage last season,
because last season I was always hopeful the Derbies might
be close, but aside from the first one, but it
never really felt the Phoenix were ready to challenge. But
it's early days. But I saw like you, I saw
some good signs.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, and some hunger too, particularly from new players who
don't have any skin in the Phoenix game. They've just
turned up, the likes of Carlo Amiento man Draker James.
I find is these guys don't have any allegiance to
this club. They've just arrived, and so any performance they
put on initially anyway, is as much about their own
professional pride as it is pride and the badge that
(16:54):
they're wearing on their chest. But I thought those guys
were all really really good, especially someone like Armiento who's
been around for a while. He's kind of jumped around
a couple of different clubs without ever really securing a place.
Remy Nazerene the same, and Draker James has got a
CV which is almost as long as Sam Cosgroves. But
I know, I thought they all kind of looked like
(17:17):
the club meant something to them at too nil down.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
The club meant something to them, and they all, you know,
believe in each other, They want to do well for
each other. There's obviously a bond there which you either
have or you don't. And when you don't have it,
it's really hard, but to have it. This is basically
I mean, this is a new team, isn't it. You
know if you think about the amount of the turnover,
so I don't know. I mean you must be really encouraged.
(17:44):
I mean, were you surprised in some ways by the performance?
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Yep, I was. I will freely admit I was, particularly
after the first half hour. And I don't want to
dwel too much on that, but that's the only frame
of reference we had. It could easily have gone south
after that. Bird know, they could have let two or
three more. In fact, they think they had another one
on the back of the net, didn't they. Pert It
was almost yes, Reenil saved by the assistant referee flag,
which was the right decision, But it was just another
(18:10):
example of how they were so easily opened up in
the first half hour. But that, yeah, the second half.
I mean, the goal by Isa is a really good goal. Nagasawa,
who had a good game I thought, plays this ball through,
has got a lot to do. When that ball has
played to him, he's got to bring it down. He's
got to beat Brian Keltak, who's one of the better
defenders going around the A League and then from a
tight angle on his less preferredoot, he's got to chip
(18:31):
a past the keeper. It's a great goal that It.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Was an amazing goal, and especially when I realized it
was his less preferred foot, because how do you do
that on your other foot. It's like the composure of
the finish, the fact that's his first A League game
for the club. I mean, there was it was an
interesting display by him, but I like the way he moves.
He's got plenty of energy, he's got pace, he's got strength.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
He went down to it. He's on occasion. Yeah, well
you know.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
The strikers, but sometimes he didn't know what run he
was going to make, but the defenders don't do though.
I guess the interesting thing will be as teams start
to analyze him over the next few weeks. But as
a signing that you know, was completely just a shot
in the dark, it's it's positive. It's really positive.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
I've heard a lot of mixed reports on is A.
Before Saturday night, I hadn't seen him play really apart
from those Australia Cup games, and there was nothing that
already jumped out at you. But look, I think he
proved that he can be a real handful for opposition defenses.
I think, you say, maybe part of the secret sources
the fact that he doesn't really know what he's going
(19:47):
to do from from minute to minute, but man, I
think he is going to get opposition defenders thinking. Armiento
impressed me as well, and Chief he said afterwards that
he believes that Armiento is one of the more exciting
signings He's made. That finish at the far post. It's
not an easy finish either the ball's arriving, it's you know,
I've seen guys like you know, Blaze that over or
(20:09):
missed the target, but it's a share footed finish. Again,
it just felt like it kind of meant something to
Carlo Armiento. I know it's easy to say when you've
scored a goal and you're bit pumped up, but yeah,
I think there was some some really really encouraging signs.
I'm not sure about Corbyn Piper coming on, and we
talked about this last week. I know he's a versatile player.
(20:31):
I still believe Corbyn Piper's best place to center back
if it's Hughes Piper James. I really quite like that
as a back three. I don't know whether we're going
to see it, but Piper feels like a defender to me.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
He's definitely a defender, I guess.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
But are you comfortable that he's that he's technically the
right player to be starting ahead of some.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Of the others.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Yep, yeah, I am. I know that's he's perhaps not
as sure on the balls as perhaps a Sheridan, for example,
but I just think he adds that robust quality that
that you kind of need from from those in the
back comand I think man Draker James had it. You know,
he's not the he's not the quickest player going around,
but there was one occasion in the second half when
he went stride for stride with Adam Taggart, you know,
(21:16):
and and muscled them off the ball, you know, one
of the A League's premier strikers, as he was looking
to make in roads. So yeah, I think you can,
especially with a back three, I think you can kind
of compensate because you've got the wing backs dropping in
paying and Armiento, so it's not like you're going to
be utterly exposed. Yeah. So that's a long window way
of saying that that I'd be playing Corp and Piper
(21:38):
in the back three. I don't think Chief he will,
but that's what I'd be doing.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Another question as someone who's played, because you've played a
lot as a defender, so I mean, what can you
do do you persist with this high line, especially against
the the better teams?
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Such a good such a good question. I think if
Chief he is the kind of coach I think who
goes all in on things. I think if I think
if he's going to do it, he's all in on it.
So I think the answer is probably yes, and I
think that's probably the right approach, given the fact that
you don't want to be saying from week to week, Okay,
are we playing the high line today or are we not?
Because they've got X, Y and Z. If you buy
(22:20):
into the system, then you buy into the system. I
would like to see them perhaps open their body position
up a little bit. Of these guys have be ready
for the ball over the top. Look, teams are going
to teams are going to try and find ways of
combating it, and there are a lot better teams in
the A League than Perth. Glory, Kocharski and Tagg are
good strikers, But there are a lot of good teams
around who will exploit that highlight, just like it was
what angshtid, wasn't it for Tottenham Anshboster Cochlo at Tottenham
(22:43):
he played this incredibly high line and it just seems
so obvious. Okay, the way to combat is you put
a ball over the top and have a couple of
nippy strikers running through. But having said that, in the
second half Kocharski and Tag it seem pretty well contained.
So look, if they got the hang of it after
thirty minutes, then I'm looking forward to seeing how it
looks after six games.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Burge Well, I just think of Spur as a good example,
but also Liverpool Manchester City. They've had their issues with
the high line at times, and they are teams that
have been together for years and have so much time together.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
So it's a challenging way to play.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
But it feels like if you get it right in
front of the back three, then you're fine. If you've
got to get your press right, you've got to get
all those things working well and then it's less of
an issue.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
And I guess the other thing is risky, but it's exciting.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Yeah, it is. And it does allow you if teams
press on and try and beat your high line, allows
you to, if you have possession of the ball, to
perhaps pass through them. And I guess that's the point also,
and I means as goal again, Agasawa gets the ball
in a good position, plays that pass.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
I'm sure the things are all related and I'm sure
we'll see more of it. So Yeah, to answer the question,
I think Chief he is all in it. I think
they'll continue to play it until until he decides that
it's not getting him the results that he's after. For
the Phoenix, they host Brisbane Raw at Sky Stadium three
o'clock on Sunday, that's Labor Weekend Sunday, of course, for
the first home game for the Phoenix. Other our one games,
(24:09):
Adelaid beat Sydney two to one. Already the pressure growing
on Ofook Talley at Sydney FC. Brisbane one, Albiner is
over MacArthur. One will draw between the Wanders and Melbourne City,
with Costa Barbarussa scoring on his Wanderer's debut. And this
crazy game yesterday Maron is three Newcastle two. It's two
all in the ninety seventh minute when a penalty's awarded
(24:31):
to Newcastle, Andrew Redmains saves it, the Mariners go down
the other end of Nicolas Duarte scores a winner sixty
seconds later. Absolutely bonkers finished to the F three derby.
So you say, but you know the first round delivered
in all sorts of different ways.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Oh, it did, and that was brilliant.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
I haven't seen anything like that, apart from there was
a game a few years ago, what was it, a
promotion game with Watford, and it was a similar thing.
A penalty saved at one end, go down the other end,
a score in the ninety seventh minute. But I it's
perfect for that to happen in the derby, isn't it,
When you've got both sets of fans there. And it
was absolutely brilliant. But you'd be you'd be absolutely sick
(25:09):
to lose that way, wouldn't you.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Oh you what if your Newcastle? You know you've gone
to your biggest rivals, You've got a penalty right at
the end. You think we score this and we can
go away happy and with three points. But not to
be the Mariners, who I think a lot of people
picked us. Wooden spooners Underway with three points on opening weekend.
Good balls ever with Jason Paine and Michael Burgess. Let's
go to the All Whites. When we spoke last week
(25:32):
they had the one that all lost to Poland. In
the time since they've drawn one all with Norway. This
was a much improved performance, wasn't it the second game
of this international window.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Well, if we stop and think you're playing Norway world
number thirty one. I know they're missing a couple of players,
but they are ahead of Italy and their World Cup
qualifying group. They are a real team. They've been a
real team for a few years, you know, real, a
real prospect, and I think the awards are probably the
had a team for the opening fifty to fifty five,
maybe even the opening hour.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
So it's remarkable.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Yeah, And to score the golf and Sermon putting his
body on the line to put New Zealand one nill ahead.
They had a chance, or a couple of chances, didn't
They to make it too Ben Old with a diving
header which the keeper parried away across Cameman and Chris
Wood couldn't quite get there to make it too nil. Yeah,
I thought they were very very good. Norway scored a
(26:26):
goal to make it one all. But I just want
to ask you about a couple of players. One is
Alex Paulson and Gold he played both games in this window.
Darren Baisley has been very loyal to Max Crocum, as
we mentioned last week on the podcast. This time around
he played Alex Paulson in both games. Even with Max
crokem in this squad. Can you see Alex Paulson being
(26:47):
dislodged now as number one?
Speaker 2 (26:50):
It'll be hard. It will be hard because he was
he was excellent.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
He was good against Poland and then really good against
Norway and a he's pretty blameless for the goal they
conceded in an intense game, in a game where it
was a real test. So you know, if you're picking
on form and the fact he's going to be playing
every week in Poland, we could look back on that
as Paulson's moment. I assume Crokan will get another chance.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Will he get another chance for the World Cup. I
assume he will. There's quite a few matches to go.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Yeah, I don't know, maybe not. You're right, there are
a lot of matches to go, but then again, there
aren't aren't you know, a dozen matches to go, But
they've got a window in November, then one in March,
and then maybe a game or two before the World Cup.
Well that's only six games, so maybe maybe you know
you say okay to use this phrase again. We're all
in on Alex Paulson and I think that's probably the
(27:44):
long term scenario. Burch isn't. Alex Paulson is a tremendous goalkeeper.
I think he is the long term number one, and
I feel like you'll be pretty hard to dislodge Max Croik.
I'm not getting a heck of a lot of games either,
although I did note he made his Championship debut for
Millwall over the weekend. He's only been playing Cup games
up till now, but he did play in the Championship
(28:06):
over the weekend and they won two one. So look,
if he gets to run a games, he keeps the
pressure on. I think it's a nice problem for Bays
to have, isn't it a couple of high quality keepers.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
It's great. It's a great, great situation to be in.
Crokum will now have a point to prove and really
want to push. They'll push each other at training, all
that kind of thing. But yeah, the gut feeling is
that Porson's probably got the slightly highest ceiling and there's
just something about him. He just makes crucial says at
crucial times, you know, he just gets he gets things
in the way, and when he's in goal, even though
(28:36):
he's not actually the biggest keeper, he seems to be
incredibly hard to beat.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
He's also I've noticed a lot better with his feet now,
and that just comes from experience, doesn't it. But the
balls play back to him, he's trapping it and passing
the ball with both feet, you know, whichever side it
comes to. He's comfortable trapping it, and the sounds obvious.
They're professional players, but I've seen goalkeepers can't do it,
you know. And he just looks comfortable ball at feet now,
which is another string to his bow. Playing every week
(29:02):
in poland clearly high on confidence. So yeah, I wonder
when they get together for the next window against Columbia
and Equit or whether it will be Alex Pawson. I
guess we'll find out. The other guy I'm interested to
hear thoughts on is Michael Boxell. I think we can
all agree the future center back pairing for New Zealand
is likely to be long term anyway, Finn Sermon and
Tyler Binden. And even though Michael Boxell is you know,
(29:25):
around the same age as one Mata, he's still to
me is looking a very assured defender, very fits, very composed.
I just wonder whether our Best eleven has Michael Boxel
on it.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Well, Michael Boxel is a I was going to say
medical marvel, but that's the wrong term. But he's a
physical marvel. You know, they're starting to get sort of
Maldini vibes about him, the fact that he's not aging.
I remember reading about Asi Milan and Maldini and they've
got this crazy set up I think near Lake Como,
where they and the players sleep there, they stay there,
there's got all sort sort of things to look after
(30:01):
their health. So it's something completely extreme. But I don't
know what Michael Boxel does, but he isn't really aging.
And to be a center back and be trying to
keep up with strikers and you're thirty seven years old
and you're still keeping up is absolutely remarkable.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
I think it was quite instructional that the game against
Australia at go Media, we saw Binden and Sermon start
together box he played in Canberra and he played again
in this game against Norway. I don't know, birds, they
just feel more secure with him and the team, you know.
And yeah, you're right, medical Marvel, you know, completely completely ageless.
(30:44):
But yeah, I just wonder whether one or both, or sorry,
one of Sermon or Bindel that just have to bide
their time. Sermon's looking good though. I like the way
he's playing. Geez a very different prospect from the from
the young Academy Phoenix ployer he used to see running
around he looked, but look looked a bit like ban
beyond Ice when he first started playing. Fully committed, but
you know, just wasn't sure of his body. I don't
(31:04):
think he looks a very very good defender now well
he does.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
He's got so much about him he I think I
was reading somewhere today. He's just been voted the supporters
Player of the Year at Portland, which is saying something.
He's the youngest ever captain. I mean, he's going places
because he's another defender with it. He's just got a
knack for being in the right place at the right time,
I think he was third and then less for blocks
(31:31):
and clearances this season, growing in confidence and there's just
without without high beings up too much. He's just starting
to remind me a lot of Ryan Nelson. He's a
leader at a young age. He can seem to grow
with every challenge. He knows where to be on a
football field.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
The way he.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Popped up with that goal. I mean, there's it's very
exciting to have a guy that young doing so well.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Yeah, in midfield, Ben Old, Ryan Thomas, preach sing, Marco Staminich,
Matt Garb. But gee, there are some good players going around.
How good does it have having Ryan Thomas back though?
To talk about a touch of class?
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Yeah, I mean it's funny because we I don't know
that it felt that we almost all of us forgot
about him to a degree because it was a period
where I don't know what you thought, but I was
starting to think maybe he'll actually never come back to
the All Whites, you know how it dragged on so long? Ye,
But now he's back, he suddenly feels like one of
the most indispensable players in the squad.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Yeah, I think he's rusted on starter now, having just
come back and clearly he hasn't lost any of his class.
I was like you, but I wondered whether we would
see him again. He just seemed to be so unlucky
with injuries, and then you know, as it's probably natural
when you come back from injury, sulic. I just want
to get some club games under my belt because Darren
Batesy was always in touch with him over the last
year to eighteen months and finally he said yes, came
(32:53):
back in and has a missed beat, soar preach things
interesting to me. He still is the player who can
do what no other player in New Zealand colors can do.
I don't know, I'd love some more consistency from Sapred.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
I guess, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
He's a player that I think we're indicating he's got
that vision, he can play that pass. He's a player
that they all whites need. But he needs to be
more consistent and at times it does overdo the extra touch,
the recycling, maybe dwells a bit instead of playing a
(33:31):
bit more direct or certainly a bit more through the line.
So there's a bit to work on. I guess he's
still getting his confidence back physically and mentally, but you
want him inform next German June, and then he can
really he can really be a difference maker. But it's
getting interesting because who is our best midfield? I mean,
(33:52):
like you've, like we've just been saying, it feels like
you've got to start to build this midfield around Royn Thomas. Yeah,
because he's the most capable.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Yeah. I don't even mentioned Bell. He missed these two
games through injury. He's been a rock there. So here
we got Staminich, Bell, Thomas, Old Sing, Garbet Rufer. You
know there's a we're at the point where we're good players.
I know we're near the eleven now that I think
(34:19):
that's where we're going to find ourselves.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
I mean, where would where would you play Ryan Thomas.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
I'd play them in an eight. I like Starminich in
that sixth role. I kind of like the idea of
a of a bit of a diamond where where Staminich sits,
Thomas and Garbett are further forward, and Sing is in
the ten with Chris Wood up top and one player
off him rather than the two white guys. I like,
(34:48):
do you like Thomas a bit deeper?
Speaker 2 (34:50):
No? No, I don't.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
I because because the reason I asked you because when
we talked to Ryan Thomas before the Australia series and
he said, oh, I can't do what I used to do.
I'm more of a box to box guy and I'm
defend to midfield my club. But I think he can
do what he used to do. And I think on
the ball, he's the best in the team. He's got
the quickest feet and he's the guy you want near
the penalty area. He's the guy that can play the
(35:12):
one twos and you know so actually he needs to
be as far forward as practically possible because he's the
guy that can unlock things. And your second point, I'm
so glad you said it. He's got to be someone
off Chris Wood. I'm really getting a little bit frustrated
with this persistence just to stick with the basic front
(35:33):
three and essentially two wingers, when I think every opposition
coach loves it when it's just Chris Wood up front
and they can put two defenders on him. We've got
a gem. We've got a gem in our hands, a
guy at the peak of his powers playing in the
Premier League, and we've got to make sure we make
the most of it.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Yeah, absolutely, more discussion on that in the weeks and
months ahead. Next up for the All Whites Big Test.
A couple of South African sides are South American sides,
my apologies and good ones too. Columbia the world number
thirteen and Equid or the world number twenty three. In
the November window now, Ecuador was second and Columbia third
in South American World Cup qualifying. We know how how
(36:11):
you know competitive that as Argentina won that group. Ecuador
and Columbia both ahead of Uruguay, both ahead of Brazil.
These are good teams. And look, we don't play South
American teams very often, but it's a great window for
New Zealand, isn't it? Because who knows who's coming out
of those pots in December? As our World Cup opponents.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
I really love the way the arrangers schedule. You know,
they've they've done it so well to play this variety
of teams and super competitive teams. And like you say,
how good most Ecuador and Columbia b and there's no
half messages with South American teams. They will be full throttle.
They keep the ball so well it's it's going to
be a really tough challenge.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Yeah, looking forward to those games in November. Just a
word of the football ferns as well. They are in
camp at the moment as they look forward to two
matches against Mexico the Friday and Monday of Labor weekend
and then a match against the United States as well.
So we'll keep an eye on our football ferns too.
That is football Fever Today. Quick predictions for the weekend birds.
You think both Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix can
(37:12):
can get the points against Western Sydney and Brisbane respectively
at home.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Aucklandf se obviously have a much tougher assignment and both
teams will want to get the points because they need
that early statement. But this shows how different this season
could be for Auckland because they lose all season last year,
one game at home regular season. That's right Western United
wasn't it, So you know they could be in danger
of I mean Western Sydney.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
You tip them to win it. They're they're they're bloody good.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
But yeah, you'd hope that Auckland back at home full
strength team virtually will do the business and Wellington got
to be confident. But Brisbane, I mean how do you
see that match, piney, because Brisbane obviously are a much
better side from last season.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Yep, they are, and they and physical too. I think
Michael Vacanis has got them playing in a fairly robust fashion.
There you go, it's the euphemism all use. Look, they
are unapologetic about it, and I think they'll come to
Wellington with confidence after all winning their first game. I
didn't see a lot that will frighten Wellington. I'm sure
(38:13):
Jian Collo Wi Taliano. We'll have a look at the
tape and then I think feed off the confidence that
Wellington got from that first up draw against Perth from
too nil down. So yeah, I mean, and it would
be a real boost to them if they could, you know,
in their first home game, get or when, get the
season going and feed off that momentum and start getting
the fans back on side as well, because as we
(38:34):
mentioned last week, it was a pretty it was pretty
disillusioned fan base by the time the season wound down
at the back end of last year. Good to have
the new season here. We can figure it all about
that now, we can forget about the first thirty minutes
on Saturday night as well. Hopefully never see that again.
Give us all heart failure, bir It's great to see
you mate, thanks for stopping in. We'll see you again
next week.
Speaker 2 (38:53):
Yeah, definitely mate.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Football football weaver
Speaker 3 (39:04):
M h i
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