January 11, 2026 • 47 mins
Jason Pine and Michael Burgess review the latest A-League matches for Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC.
Auckland FC's incredible away form continues with a 2-0 win over Brisbane solidifying their place at the top of the table.
The Phoenix men come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Adelaide United, but the Phoenix women lose their unbeaten home record, falling 2-1 to Melbourne City.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Football Fever the podcast keeping you up to date with
a beautiful game with the voice of football Jason Paine,
and ends in Herald's Makeel Burgess powered by News Talk Zby.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hello there and welcome into Football Fever. It's a pleasure
to be here as we discussed the beautiful game a
league football Aukland f C, Wellington Phoenix and on a
wider note, our national teams as well as we prepare
for a massive year in terms of the round ball,
I'm Jason Pine, Michael Burgess is here are speaking the
(00:32):
round ball. You've been watching a slightly smaller round ball
for the last week or so at the tennis burge
another week ahead. I'm surprised you've had the energy all
the time to watch any football and enjoyers to chat
about it.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Yeah, the fuel texts a bit low, but you know,
you keep like a road trip, you keep driving and
you hope that there's a petrol station coming up around
the corner. But it's been a fantastic week at the tennis.
We're so lucky to have that event. And also you know,
the season keeps on rolling and there's so much to discuss.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Absolutely well, there were games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
so let's go chronologically Friday nights on Corpse Stadium, Brisbane
Rawnell Auckland f C too. I thought about this game afterwards,
Birch and this was quintessential Auckland FC, going away from
home and just winning a very solid win. In your
match report you called it clinical. It was exactly that,
wasn't it. This was just what Auckland FC do now.
(01:25):
They just win football games, especially when they're away from home.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
It's the formula, isn't it. I think they're becoming the
envy of the league in a way, the way they
can just turn up these performances. I mean, they had
a point to prove, I know, the result here against Brisbane,
that draw where actually Brisbane probably the better team that
hurt them, That hurt them, They felt like they got outplayed,
but also Brisbane sort of out muscled them. So they
(01:50):
were going there with the point to prove, plus coming
off the MacArthur MacArthur getting a Lady equaliser and it showed,
you know, they were back back to what they do.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
It was just I don't know, at the risk of
repeating myself, it just seemed like such a such a
typical Auckland FC performance, something we got used to last year,
where they just went out there and they got their
goals and they kept their opposition at arm's length, and
they never really felt like they were going to lose
the game. Even at Wondill. I mean what, Lachlan brook
(02:20):
got his goal in the seventy third minutes, so it
was one nil up until then. But even at that,
you know, during the second half, I never really thought,
I mean, did Brisbane ever really threaten? I can remember
one shot quite near the end that Michael Vaut had
to deal with. Did Brisbane I know they were playing
their fourth game in ten days, but I'm not sure
that they really threatened, did they?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I mean that fourth game ten days is pretty tough,
and they didn't quite look like they have earlier this season.
But yeah, I can. I mean, it was late, wasn't
It was almost eleven thirty thinking back, But there were
a couple of chances towards the end, I think in
the last ten to fifteen minutes, but by then it's
two nil and you know the game's over. But as
you say, even even at one nil, I don't know.
(03:03):
I haven't seen too many teams in the A League
that are such good front runners. You know, Auckland, if
they get ahead, it's it's really tough for the opposition.
That they just love having the lead and they can
play on their terms, and especially away from home, where
you know that it's okay if they sit back a
little bit, although they didn't really sit back, but a
(03:25):
lot of ways to hurt teams and maybe with their
with their back forth from last year. I don't know
what you think, but it feels like they're looking a
bit more defensively solid as well, although Brisbane were limited,
so it's probably a tricky one to weigh up.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, I think they. I think they they're very good
defensively on the road. They've only conceded three away goals
in six games. And we'll talk more about their away form.
But you make such an interesting point about being good
front runners, and the stats would be that out urge
Auckland FC have never lost a game from one nell
up in their entire history. Yeah, if they score the
(04:05):
first goal, they either win or draw that game. They've
never lost from one nell up. So if you're going
to beat Auckland, you've got to score the first goal.
That's it. I mean conversely, the other part of that status.
They've never won a game from one nil down, so
it's quite an interesting little dynamic. If Auckland FC score
the first goal, they take at least a point. So
(04:25):
yet very good front runners and very good at being
top of the league as well. I mean Sydney, you're
kind of breathing down their necks. It's only halfway through
the season, but they don't mind being the hunted. I
don't think they almost beat their chest and and sort
of revel in the fact that everybody wants to knock
them over. It seems to energize them.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Yeah, it's a good point. Like I think other teams
and you see it in other sports it can be
a bit of a burden being the team that everyone
is hunting. It doesn't feel that way. I talk to
some of the people at the club at the start
of the season, said, how are you going to approach this,
because you know they did everything they could last year,
all but getting into a Grand final, winning the league,
(05:05):
et cetera, et cetera, and he's and he said, yeah,
we've refocused, We've come up with a different theme and
you know they're they're coming to get us. They're coming
to get what's ourse and we like that and that's
that's how it feels. There's no I can't detect any
any mental or emotional fatigue in terms of you know,
(05:28):
being the being the hunted.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
And certainly no, you know, no problem with the second album.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
No, not so far. No, it's Queen or Elton John.
You know, they just sort of rather than the rather
than the Elanas Morris att.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
That is brilliant. That is brilliant niche content there from you. Well,
do Sam Coles grove back into the starting side. It
seemed to give them a bit more structure. Cam Hollis
and also into the starting eleven. This is interesting, isn't it.
You know, he's a good player, Cam Houise and a
good solid player, has always been probably the best player
in our national league. Has had to sort of wait
(06:05):
for opportunities for Auckland FC because there are other players
who plan in his position who have been preferred. But
when you can bring a player like Cam Howison and
it demonstrates the depth, doesn't it at Auckland f C.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Again, Yeah, that's that's the thing. That that's that's one
of the key things, isn't it. Just just we we've
we've talked about this a few times on the podcast,
but the opposition team must must wonder because they either
have guys coming off the bench or they have guys
starting that haven't been starting that are almost as good.
That's a great position to be in house and really
(06:38):
really solid player. I'm just so pleased for him because
he had so many years, as you say, where he
he was playing at probably a level below where he
could he There's family reasons why he's you know, he's
probably good enough to play for other league teams in Australia,
but there were family reasons why he sort of needed
to stay in Auckland and and yeah, I just think
(06:59):
it's great.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Yeah, he's finally getting the chance to be a professional
and he's always been good enough, as you say, to
be one. And here we are, Sam Cosgrove open and
scoring early from close range. Francis of Vree's corner first
Aukland FC goal from a corner this season, which is
just remarkable really given how good you know the delivery
has been. And then Lochland Brook's goal. Can we just
talk a bit about this that it was in the
(07:21):
right place on the pitch, too, wasn't it for the
camera right behind lockland Brook as he sort of you know,
goes into the area, looks up and then bends an
absolute world off the post. This is a terrific goal
and just another one to add to Lochland Brook's already
impressive body of work this season.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Well, his confidence must be through the roof. I mean,
I can't imagine how it feels to score a goal
like that. Just must be amazing. There were you know,
there were We've seen someone like Mohammed Salah score goals
like that for Liverpool, you know where he just cuts
in and then bends it and hits the posted. Just
just absolutely fantastic strang and at a crucial time because
(08:03):
that's what didn't happen against MacArthur. You know MacArthur. I
felt they were ahead, they were going, well they're the
better team, but they couldn't get that second Brook goes
off and then there's a lad equalizer. So it was vital.
But yeah, he's got two amazing goals, well two crackers
this year and a couple other good ones.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, and so now do we have to now just
stop this conversation about where Lachlan Brook playsmo Mai again
came off the bench. I think Steve coraicup without knowing this,
I think has been trying to get them both into
the starting side and get the best effect out of
(08:42):
both of them. Lachland Brook and Gizumo may But is
there any argument now you have to start Brooking the ten.
You just have to, don't you.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Yeah, you do, because he's the best number ten in
the league at the moment, and he's just not nearly
as influential when he out wide or I saw what
Croker was trying to do. It's a weird situation that
your player of the year from last season, you know,
might not be starting. But Gemmmi is good enough to
(09:12):
reinvent himself and he can also still play as a striker.
They've got that option. So it feels like they've got
more options than last season. They've got more things they
can do. Maybe they can try Gimo on the left.
I don't know. But but Brooke at the moment, he's
he's a fixture. He's a fixture in the number ten du.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Yeah, absolutely, I totally. I think he's he's one of
the best players in the comp and while you're a
hot hand as he is. You can't dilute his effectiveness.
It's almost dereliction of duty if he puts them back
out wide. Now I get, I get the egos and
the and the personalities within a football team and a
(09:53):
guy like my, as you say, would be expecting to start.
He's an important player. He's just say player of the
season last year. But then you think Logan Rogerson had
to bide his time as well, didn't he Early on
this season he didn't get a lot of starts, in fact,
very few opportunities early on this season he's had to
buy his time. He started the last two games. When
you've got a squad like this, and we always talk
(10:14):
about depth and how important it is, you can't win
a camp with eleven players. Know, the balancing act for
a manager like Steve Kriker is that he has to
keep everybody happy and it's impossible, it's completely impossible. Just
talked about Cam Howison. That was only his fifth start,
I think in his twenty ninth or thirtieth appearance for
the club. Sometimes he doesn't even make the matchday squad.
(10:36):
It's all part of being a manager. And he's not
the only boss in the A League or in football worldwide.
Who has to deal with you know, good players who
reckon they should be playing, but ants. I mean he's
done well from the outside looking in anyway, Steve Kyrik
has done a pretty good job of it so far.
It's a nice problem. I'm sure a lot of other
coaches would enjoy the problem of the depth that he
(10:57):
is at his disposal.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
He's done well, done well with his rotation with when
he's brought players back. He's always loyal for as long
as he can be, and as far as I can
see last season, there weren't any big dramas. As you say,
there's always issues at a football club with egos and
players want to play, but so far it's pretty harmonious.
(11:19):
Gim is a good guy. Hell, he loves the team.
He'll want them to do well, and there'll be chances
there'll be injuries, Sam Cosgrove from memory of sitting on
a few yellow cards, so there could be a you know,
let's hope not, but there could be suspension coming up there.
GiMA can play striker, of course, it won't be a problem.
It's actually, like you summed it up perfectly, it's a
(11:42):
great problem to have because Croker got players all over
the place in form.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Yeah, and not just in the front third. You look
at Nander Pinneker has come back into the starting side
last two weeks. I wasn't sure how he's going to
get back in the starting side. He's come back in
and Jake Goodwood reyk has taken on a new role
of coming off the bench and when they go to
the back five, he fills that role. I think the
best example though, of a player who Steve Coriker has
managed in this fashion is Kellen Elliott. You know, he
(12:09):
he knew right from the start that he played the
same position as as the captain, as the best player
as Akiki, So he just he just did what he
needed to do in terms of whatever brief he was handed.
And this year, you know, with the hamstring injury to Psarkai,
he had a number of games where he started. Now
he's back in an impact role off the bench. So
(12:30):
I just think that's a great example. Steve Crocker's obviously,
you know, managed to find a way to keep Kellen
Elliott fully engaged even though he might not be starting
every game.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Yeah, great point, because Kellen Kellen made that point the
other other week when he said you know, I believe
I'm good enough to start. He's like any footballer, he
wants to believes he's good enough. But he said, I'm
you know, I've got the captain in my position, so
I'm realistic. But he'll keep pushing. And the clever thing
that Kroker does and also the luxury that has as
quite off an Aucklandft seat do have leads towards the
(13:02):
end of game. So sometimes he'll put Allied on with
twenty to go, fifteen to go, and that just keeps
players happy. You know, they're part of it. There's nothing,
nothing worse than not getting on at all.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Yeah, you often think that, you know when at the
end of the game, when you see guys, you know,
handshakes and everything after the game, often wonder about the
mindset of someone who hasn't got on. I know they're
all part of the same team, you know, and they'll
all say, hey, we're a team here. But yeah, if
you haven't got sweat on your brow, I'm not sure
that you enjoy it as much as your what if
you have navier shit soaking wet after a big shift. Anyway,
(13:36):
Steve Gorick a nice problem to have. Dan Hall's one
hundredth Day League men's game, his twenty sixth for Auckland,
seventy four previously for Central Coast. Another terrific performance from
Dan Hall. If we talk about players who you know
who will always play if available, I think Dan Hall
is certainly in that category. It takes Auckland the f
seat at the top of the table by two points
from Sydney FC. They do have a game in hand though,
(13:58):
Gee Birch, I'm so looking forward to these three matches
between Auckland f C and Sydney FC, and by quirk
of the drawer, they play each other on the final weekend.
I mean, how good would it be to come down
to that final game with the Premiers plate still up
for grabs when they meet in Sydney At the back end,
I think it's over Anzac weekend April twenty sixth from memory,
(14:19):
I mean it could still be alive right up until then.
This feels like, you know, these two are going to
battle of that for the Premiers played, because.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
That's always what the Premier Premier League like to do,
isn't it. They sort of stage games. But that they
have that as the final game of the season, brilliant.
I mean, so we're talking a bit of delayed gratification,
aren't we, Because so they're not going to play each
other till February.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
They played, Yeah, three games between February and wow.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
In of April. Yeah, so they're still Yeah, the Auckland
FC have still got three more games before they meet
Sydney and yeah, because of that canceled game and rescheduled
that the Quirkers, they'll play each other. You know, well,
Auckland will play Sydney home and then away ten days later.
So that little period could be very pivotal. When you
talk about six pointers, there's a twelve point swing there,
(15:06):
you know, if you want to look at it that way,
at the beginning of February. So the premiers Plate may
well be decided in those two matches in early February.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
It's going to be a great trilogy between the teams.
And you know, if telay'st got something to prove that,
especially that loss here last season that really really pissed
them off with that late the offside call in the
Nando's goal. So yeah, he they'll they'll really want to
get that back and it's going to be great.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Yeah, I think that that game. That's because White Tonguey
Day's the sixth, that's the Friday, Saturday, seventh of February.
Auckland f C at home to Sydney FC. That will
be an absolute belter. Can't wait for that. Just a
word on the traveling support too. Didn't look good having
all those Awkland FC fans in the stands that I
think they had organized a large number of them to
(15:55):
be at this game. The Port of Call I think
they call them great to see such good traveling support
for Auckland f C.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Oh, hats off to the port. I mean they looked
at the fixture list and they decided what's the game
we're all going to try and travel to and they
picked that one. I mean, Brisbane's a great place to go.
You can go down to the Gold Coast. It worked
out perfectly, and yeah, it just looks it looks fantastic
like it's looked the last few times the Phoenix had traveled,
especially that Melbourne game with all the Phoenix fans. So
(16:23):
it's just it's just a great time to be a
traveling football fan as well.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Absolutely absolutely so. Awkled FC are away again this coming
Friday night. They won't care. Can I just read this
record out? They've played twenty away games one to twelve, drawn,
six lost, just two thirty three goals scored, just sixteen
conceited in those twenty games. As I say, this year,
(16:50):
four wins and two draws away, just three away goals conceded.
Goodness me, birch. They conceded three in one game the
last time they played at home. They might be petitioning
the league to play all of their games over there.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Do Warriors to Warriors twenty twenty one and moved to
Australia because you know, the only two losses was were
the first distance starb in Perth, which is a bit
of a strange game, and it was.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
They played super late, so that's always hard. And then
the in the the dead rubber against Western United. It's
just it's just crazy.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Yeah, absolutely astonishing. So Aukland FC away to Melbourne City
on Friday night, that's the next assignment before they come
back home for a game against the Central Coast Mariners.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
The Football Beaver Podcast with Jason Vain and Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Let's go to Saturday afternoon at Pottidoor Park, Wellington, Phoenix
women won Melbourne City two, the eighth meeting between these two,
the eighth time Melbourne City of one, so they really
do have the Phoenix's number. First home loss for Wellington
Phoenix this season. When I look at this game and
hover above it, the one glaring point for me around
(17:58):
why Melbourne City won this game and why the Phoenix
weren't quite at the races was that CJ. Bott was
absent again. They desperately need her back. She's got a
bit of a knee knock. It's not a bad knee
injury as I understand it, but Wellington Phoenix are just
a much better team when CJ. Bot's in the team.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Well, it's become a thing in modern football to have
the defensive midfield of protecting the defense. We've seen it
in all kinds of teams and it's just so it's
like Forustralia with aalking to see. But it's so important.
And yes, c J. Bot has been has been amazing
for the Phoenix and you could just you could just
see the difference, couldn't because suddenly they looked vulnerable when
(18:45):
they really haven't.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
No, Well, in the first seven games they conceded two
goals in their last Sorry, they conceded four goals in
their first seven games, and they've considered that many in
their last two. And the common denominator that CJ. Bot
hasn't been there in the last two games. She just
does an incredible job of shielding her defense. And yes,
(19:08):
Alie Walker and Mac Bowry and Maurice Vandermier Advocz and
have done a great job behind her, but she just
adds that solidity. And for the second time they conceded
goals on the edge of the area. The first goal
from Letitia McKenna pulled back by a young player who
really impressed me, actually Danella, Buttris. She pulled the ball
back and on the edge of the penalty area. Letitia
(19:30):
McKenna was completely unmarked, untroubled.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
CJ.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Bott, if she's on the field, stops that from happening.
She's at the edge of the penalty area making sure
McKenna doesn't even get the ball, let alone have a shot.
So I know you can't put it all down to
one player, but she just seems so integral in this team.
Second goal was pretty soft defensively as well, So like
I say, I asked b F priestman after the game
what the situation was with CJ. And it wasn't one
(19:57):
where she said, oh well, she'll definitely be back next week.
I think it's kind of a week to week proposition
and cheap is with the knee injuries they've had. They
don't want to rush your back, do they. Last thing
you need is another long term knee injury for such
an important player.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Yeah, I mean she's she's also a leader in that team.
You know, she's a leader, she's such a big voice.
There's to be so many players, especially the New Zealand
players would look up to her because they're like, wow,
this is someone who's played in eure It for so long,
played at big clubs in England, so they really need it.
But yeah, the first goal in particularly just it wasn't
(20:29):
just the fact that there was no one tracking the run,
but it was one of those weird ones which you
do see sometimes where where all the defenders had dropped
back so far and they're almost you know, on the
on the goal line. So those kinds of things are
frustrating for the team and the coach.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Just on the injuries, how much impact do you think
there would have been from losing Samba during the week.
We talked about it on the podcast last week that
she had gone off and JD. We have since found
out that she is out for the season with an ACL,
which is just awful news considering that's three now with
Alissa Winnem and Tesla Midak also succumbing to ACL injuries.
(21:05):
Samba has been such a huge part of this team,
burch and has brought with her this massive Nepalese support.
Do you think that it's kind of natural that this
is going to have an impact for a week or so.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I do? I think I think just just emotionally, it
really must affect the squad of the players the club,
because everyone's only human, like. It's kind of become a
trend where these things happen and there'll be comments come
out the next day that you know, she's determined to
come back, and you know, we're going to be positive
about it, and we just got to move on, next
man up, next woman up, and that's fine, but far
(21:38):
out this this is absolutely huge blow. She was so
dynamic within the team, seemed to be a leader of
great presence, and then the fans she brought with her
were lifting the whole side as well, and there's just
no comparison, Like there's no other job where you're doing
it and then and then you're not, and you're gone
for twelve months like in our jobs, in any job,
(21:59):
you know, it just doesn't happen. And she just that's it.
It's gone for the season. And I just think that
this particular one, you know, it will it will affect them,
and I think that was probably you know, there's still
a bit flat from that on the weekend, as much
as they wanted to put it out of their minds
(22:19):
and everything else, because it's just bloody awful.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, it really is. And it's such a good point
you made, because I mean, what she adds on the
field obviously is impressive, but I feel like you're right,
it's more about everything she brings to the team. BEF
Priestman said, she is extremely popular within that team. You know,
they absolutely adore her in that team, not just because
she's a terrific player, but because she's a terrific person.
(22:45):
And yeah, she's still going to be in and around
the team, but it's very different when you know she's
off in the gym rehabbing by herself. She's not out
on the Grass, she's not traveling with them, you know,
to games. It's got to be a blow, you know,
it's you know, I mean without wanting to be too.
It's a bit like a death in the family, isn't it?
Or you know, you know someone who's not who was
there and had so much life about her and brought
(23:07):
with her so much and is now not there. So
we wish her a speedy recovery. Now happily new signing,
Mikayla Woods looks like she could be a bit of
already made replacement in terms of on the field stuff,
and she's a very sort of exuberant personality as well,
by the looks of it. Came off the bench at halftime,
had only arrived three days before, I hadn't played since October.
(23:29):
I thought she looked pretty good, energetic, scored a goal.
You know, may well be the player who replaces Samba
at center forward. I liked what I saw from from
Mikayla Woods, and I guess at least Bef Priceman has
that option now that she I think Woods was more
of a wide player at her previous clubs, but I
thought she looked pretty good playing down the middle on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Oh, it's a good for his impression. I mean, those
are the kind of goals that fans love, teammates love.
Because she wasn't favorite to score that goal. It took
a bit of a bit of courage and real determination.
But that's a sign that maybe she's one of those players.
You know, there's always kind of players that seem to
(24:13):
make things happen, that things happen around them, you know.
I think of someone like Shane Smelts back in the
day that somehow things happened around him. He scored goals,
her main goals, And maybe she's one of those kind
of players, which which is always great to.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Have, absolutely and you can never you can never know
until you get them in what they'll be like. But yeah,
I liked the look of her and she may well
play a big role. I also enjoyed Mania Elliott's second
half performance. She came on at a half time and
at a real impetus the Phoenix couldn't get the winner.
They had had corners, sorry and equalizer. They had corners
laid on which might have given them an opportunity, but
(24:49):
to no avail. Just a word on Rebecca Stott, I
just thought she was excellent again for Melbourne City the
experience Football Fern. Afterwards, coach Michael Matrisiani said, she's the
best player in the league and look, I think it's
a you know, it's a fairly good assessment. So Melbourne
City go top two games in hand. They're the benchmark
in the A League. Woman's a great response from them
(25:11):
as well. It almost felt like they had something to
prove after that last game where they scored right at
the end with their only shot. I wonder whether that
sort of stung them. But they were way more effective,
weren't they.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Oh this was yeah. I mean we would sort of
talked a lot about how good the Phoenix were and
how poor the Melbourne City were and everything else. And
it felt a bit like the Empire strikes back here.
You know. It was like the revel Alliance did well
in that game away from home, but the Death Stars
back sort of thing. I mean, that's a weird analogy,
but what I'm trying to say is that they have
(25:41):
been the benchmark and they showed why. You know, they
came to Piru Park, which is which is a tough
place to come and they were they were just really
really solid and I guess you saw a team that's
been together a long time, that super experienced against a
team that it's still still learning, growing and getting to
(26:03):
know each other.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Indeed, well, it drops the Wellington Phoenix out of the
top six for the meantime, but there's seventh on twelve points.
But they do have a game in hand and in
some cases two games in hand over the teams above them,
so I don't think there's any need to panic just yet.
It's a very tight table as the men's tables, and
we'll get to that in a second. The Wellington Phoenix
women next played Canberra away on Saturday night. This will
(26:25):
be a good test for them. Canberra are second, tucked
in behind Melbourne City. Of course, the two sides drew
one all in round one at Sky Stadium, so that's
Saturday night, seven thirty New Zealand time.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
Good balls Beaver with Jason Paide and Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Which brings us to Sunday at sky Stadium. Unbelievably windy. Look,
I've lived in Wellington for a long time, berg and
we're used to the win down here, but goodness me,
this was something else so challenging. Unbelievably windy, Wellington Phoenix two,
Adelaide United two. Now, the wind was blowing from north
(27:02):
to south, so as you look at it on TV,
that's from left to right on your screen. That's the
way the wind was blowing. It was a you know,
really strong northerly yesterday, gusting at times up to one
hundred and twenty k. But all four goals was scored
at the northern end, so theoretically into the wind, it
does tend to swirl at sky Stadium though, chief he
(27:22):
said afterwards, I hate cliches, but that was a game
of two halves, and it certainly was. I thought Wellington
Phoenix were pretty ordinary in the first half, but you know,
came right in the second. I guess, at too nil
down you take a point, don't you. But I wonder
whether they might consider that it was actually two points dropped,
given the dominance they had in the second half.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Yeah, it's mixed feelings, isn't it. When you come back
from two nil you get a drawer, it can feel like,
you know, almost like a wind. Certainly nice for the
crowd and everything else. But they had chances, they had chances,
and they finished the game well. Adelaide I thought were
always going to be a bit better than last time,
because that was a strange performance when they when they
(28:05):
came last time, even though Wellington were good, so you
felt like, oh, adelaide, ha got something to prove in
that's quarter. That second God's incredible. But yeah, Wellington games
at home when when you're coming home strong like that,
it would have been really nice to get that get
that third goal.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
They just weren't at the races in the first half,
and Chief you said afterwards, I wonder whether we worried
too much about the impact that the conditions might have.
There was so much made of the wind and it
was it was I mean, I think you know, whatever
level you play at, you take rain over wind any day,
wouldn't you. You know, a windy day just makes football
so it just isn't as much fun, is it. You know,
(28:44):
it's just really challenging and difficult and niggly and you
look to play a ball and it ends up somewhere
else and it makes good players look a bit ordinary.
But it was the same for both teams. As you say,
Ryan White and looked his elle second goal cracking so
two at halftime. Luke Brooks Smith came on halftime. I think,
and you've talked about this burge about him stacking performances.
(29:04):
I think for the second time in two weeks, he
had noticeable impact off the bench. He's just starting to
build quite a nice body of work, isn't he.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
I think so, And I think he needs but I
think he needs forty five minutes or thirty five minutes
rather than for a lot of the season he's been
getting twenty or twenty five. When you come on with
twenty or twenty five to go and you often have
been behind, it's pretty hard. It's pretty hard at any
level because you're sort of determined to make an impact
rather than just trying to do your job, and maybe
you try too hard and you just run out of it,
(29:36):
don't get many touches. You can't get your confidence to
run out of time. He's a young guy, so I
think the recipe with him is more game It will compound,
you know, the more game time he gets, the better
he's going to play. So yeah, I hope, I hope
that becomes a bit of a bit of a template
really where he's a either a halftime sober or an
early sub in the second half, and then hopefully starting
(29:59):
and because the ceiling is pretty high, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Yeah, Oh very much so yeah, but he's still very
young and and I like him as an impact player,
must say back, And I totally get what you're saying, though,
Burd You know, impacts one thing, but you're right. You
get on and all of a sudden, the game's over
and you think, well, what I imagine if he had
you know, more time, what would he achieve? And and
chief he said afterwards, you know, he's just got to
keep on building now, just has to keep playing well,
has to get consistent, because I think he was in
(30:25):
the first few games of this season he was He
was very inconsistent, and so I want yeah, so I
think it was great to see him yesterday play well
after having come on and set that goal up for
retro the previous week. And you know, got a few
pats on the back. He will have a few more
pats on the back today for the influence that he
(30:45):
that he made Isaac Hughes with a header from a
corner ten minutes into the second half, and then Corbyn
Piper making it to too. He's just an all purpose player,
Corbyn Piper, Isn't he have you sort of revised your
view on Corbyn. I'm not saying you necessarily dismissed him,
but he's quite an effective player, isn't he.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
Pipe Yeah, No, I never dismissed him, but when he
first came into the Phoenix team, I just wondered how
much of an impact he was going to make at
a league level. You know, I'd seen him around the Traps,
playing in the local football and I just wasn't sure.
But he's one of those guys that's risen to the challenge.
Everyone knows he's wholehearted and everything else and just give
(31:28):
so much. But he's also effective, you know, he's making
things happen.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
Yeah, and he's just a one hundred percent I think
I've made the comparison before here. It might it's been
a lot of Ben Sigmuent in terms of the wholehearted
nature with which he plays the game. Great to see
him get another goal. Used today. Tim Payne back for
the first time since breaking his collar bone in a
Round two, very solid return. He was only supposed to
play sixty minutes. At sixty minutes, the Phoenix are two
(31:55):
one down and chief he kind of got the message
out to Tim can you give us another five, and
thankfully Tim Paine said yes, because he set up the
second goal with his last action actually as soon as
that goal win and he was off. So he just
makes such a difference, doesn't he, Tim pain even after
being you know, out, there's no way he's got ninety
minutes in his legs. But I don't know. And it
(32:17):
actually took him a little bit of time to get
into the game, which is probably understandable. But I mean,
quality player, right, So, you know, good to have him
coming back for the second half of the season.
Speaker 3 (32:26):
Is he back? He hit a schedule pointing interesting.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
You ask, because there'd been very little in the way
of updates around Tim Payne, and then all of a
sudden last week they're like, oh, he's back in the
he's back in contention, So, I don't know how long
a broken collar bone normally takes to heal. I kind
of thought it was more like a twelve week proposition,
whereas he's back kind of you know, maybe maybe a
couple of three weeks ahead of that. I mean, yeah,
(32:49):
clearly he's passed all the tests and everything like that,
and they're happy for him to be to be back
in there. So yeah, I and I did enjoy it.
When the Phoenix went to a back four, I have
to say, I know they've played that in the past,
but you know they've pretty much gone with the back
three this year. At halftime, two all down, they went
to the back four. I thought that looked quite good.
It gave them an extra man further forward chasing the game.
(33:12):
I thought it was a good move.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Yeah, because sometimes it's the season has felt like they've
lacked bodies in the opposition half bodies in the opposition area.
So it's a nice option, and you know, it's something
I'm sure the coaching staff will look at. And on Pain,
it's just we talked about this when he got injured,
that Alex Rue for lacks lieutenants in this team. You know,
(33:35):
this sort of in terms of the leadership. Pain left
a massive vacuum just because guys like Scott Wins left,
Sam Sutton left, the guys who left the season before,
a lot of new players. So yeah, to have Tim
payin back, he's he's a guy that knows the club,
knows the team, knows what it means and helps to
set the standard, doesn't he.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Indeed, indeed, and they've Bill Tuoloma coming in as well.
So yeah, another lieutenant of sorts, even though he's new
to the side, you know, huge experience. Another all White
into the mix as well. His signing confirmed on Thursday.
We talked about it on the pod last week as
being highly speculated upon. It came to pass on Thursday.
He will travel to Sydney for the next game for Wellington.
(34:16):
Just an illustration of the game of two halves narrative.
First half, Phoenix had one shot to Adelaide's eight. In
the second half the Phoenix had fourteen shots to none.
I don't think Amon McCarron even hardly touched a ball
in the second half apart from when it got played
back to him and he restarted the attack. It was
incredible and the Finnish kind of won, you know, retray
(34:38):
off the bench at the post at two to two,
remenizerine at the bar. But as I say, at two
nil down, you know, with with fifty five minutes gone,
you probably take the point, do you. It's such a
tight table that you know picking up the point maybe
you know in the in the overall wash up it
might be a point very well won.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
Well, there's a lot more sweet than so from that game,
you have to say. So overall they'll be happy, you
know that they'll I guess the main investigation will be,
like you said, what was yesterday in the first half
and why did they start pretty flat? But I thought
the crucial thing was after what you described as probably
their best away performance in club history, they couldn't lose
(35:19):
the following week because that just burst a balloon completely.
So the fact that they got a point, they kept
the momentum going. They'll be coming into training this week still,
you know, with a swing in this step that I
thought was pretty important.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Yeah, a couple of other points in this game. Nikola
Maliusini finally debut for the Phoenix. He was signed in
the off season. It's taken him a long time to
get up to speed. He's had a couple of niggly
little injuries. He came on with seven minutes to go,
becoming Phoenix player number two hundred, had a late chance
to actually win the game. Well it was a half
chance blocked, but good to see him out there. Josh
olaway Amy failed a late fitness test and LB Kelly
(35:59):
healed actually tweaked his shoulder during the week, so on
the bench was sixteen year old goalkeeper Joseph Shellabie. He
was born but he was born about seven months before
the bar Rain game. How old is that? How old?
How old does that make you feel? Far out before
the Bahrain games? I mean, yeah, he was born in
(36:19):
two thousand and nine. This kid incredible.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
That's because Bahrain game is another another lifetime ago. But also,
how can you do that when you're sixteen? You know,
I was struggling to bloody work out how to cook
a meal, work out how to call a landline to
try and ask a girl in a date. Couldn't even
manage that, you know. And he's sitting on the bench
for an A League team.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Far out the new generation indeed, and he was apparently
in Melbourne during the week, just on holiday because he
wasn't expected to be you know, to be needed. You know,
they had allow Ammi McCarran and Kelly Healed. But yeah,
he got called back, apparently flew back from Melbourne on
Thursday night to sit on the bench. A great thrill
for the lad and yeah, obviously a cool thing for
(37:04):
such a young young player. Phoenix to fifteen points their tenth.
But the nature of the table is as we've said,
ad nauseum, so tight. They're just two points off the
top six and there are just four points between eight
teams from third place MacArthur down to the Phoenix intenth.
So it just goes to show how, you know, how
(37:26):
important it is to keep on picking up points.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
The Phoenix and.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Now the league's second highest goal scorers burge with nineteen
goals this season, but they've also conceded the second most
with twenty two. Now this isn't necessarily impediment because Newcastle
have conceded the most and their fourth Yeah I know.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
Yeah newcas I that titleddn't a couple of weeks ago.
But they've scored the most conceded the most I think
as well. Overall that's a good thing too, because the
Phoenix had so many issues with their final third output
last season and so the fact they scored goals is
a good thing. Okay, they're conceding, but always feel like,
I don't know what you think, but the defense is
(38:08):
kind of easy to fix up than trying to work
out how you're going to score goals.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Yeah, oh, absolutely no, totally agree. And yeah, the fact
that they are scoring goals, I think it was something
that was a criticism aimed at the last year, that
was they weren't attacking enough. They didn't get enough goals,
you know, to be able to find goals. Nineteen of them,
Like I say, only Newcastle have scored more through a
dozen games. I think as a good sign. You're right.
If you feel like you've got the ability to score goals,
(38:35):
you're always in matches, and yesterday it was a good example.
They're too nil down. You don't necessarily think you're out
of it because we've got goals in.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
Us exactly, exactly. Can I just since you brought up,
can I just ask you about the wind? Have you
ever spoken to any long term Phoenix players like you know,
I'm thinking Duranti, Sigmund or even Rufe of Pain about
how they deal with it on a week to week basis,
because like you say, a ball, you can handle the rain,
(39:01):
you can handle other things, but the wind is so
challenging mentally.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Yeah, oh totally. And it just beats you up, doesn't it.
You come off and your hair is all messed up.
Presumably I wouldn't know, but you know, you're all but
you're all a bit scratchy and no I haven't really,
I don't think, not from memory specifically asked, I guess
you assume that the home team, being Wellington, would be
more used to the conditions. I mean, it doesn't blow
that much in Adelaide or any of these other places,
so you think, okay, well they're going to be more
(39:26):
used to it. But I don't think that means that
you're more effective in it. And certainly Adelaide yesterday, well
they were tuning up, weren't they. So so no, I don't,
I haven't really. And and even afterwards, you know, right
at the end of his press conference, chief he said, look,
it was just you know, just well, I think he
even said it's unacceptable, not be allowed. I'm not sure
(39:48):
Mother Nature takes much notice of that sort of thing.
But yeah, I mean to come away with a point,
maybe both teams are pretty happy. Next up, the Phoenix
have two away games in New South Wales second place
Sidney FC at Ali End Sunday night. That'll be a
good game, then Newcastle the following Friday. Carlo Amiento back
from suspension. Bill Teloma as mentioned we'll travel. Whether he'll
(40:08):
play a part in one or both of these games
remains to be seen and just before we leave the Phoenix,
strong rumors that thirty year old Norwegian midfielder Santa Cartam
will join the club. He's at Hearts in Scotland, actually
a team made of former Nick's favorite Cam Devlin at Hearts.
He signed with them last January but hasn't featured at
all on the first team this year. He played nearly
(40:30):
two hundred and fifty games in Norway before signing with Hearts.
So there's a lot of mail around about Sander Kartum,
so we look for an announcement or some confirmation about that.
The transfer window opens on Wednesdays, so after that is
when they can look to bring a player in.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
Good Golfever on iHeartRadio and trued by News Talk, zedby.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
Want to finish today Burge with a listener question. We're
always happy to answer your questions. You can find one
of the both of us on social media. We're not
too difficult to find. Nick has got in touch and
said interested in whether you guys have a view on
Costa's decision to leave the Phoenix in order to strengthen
his case for the World Cup. Personally, says Nick I
was massively disappointed in him. Deciding to leave feeling he
(41:18):
could really be our central leader this season. Turns out
he's playing for the bottom of the table team who
have scored less than half as many goals as the Phoenix.
I wonder if Costa regrets it. Really interesting question, Nick,
thanks for getting in touch. Has Costa faded at Western Sydney?
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Well, I mean it happens to every player. You don't know,
it's hard to play in a team that is struggling. Althose.
You've pointed out many times They've got so much potential
Western Sydney and they could yet turn a corner. But
I would love to know what the average Wellington fan,
the Yellow Fevers think about Costa because it's unusual. And
he said three spells at the Wellington Phoenix, and he
(41:57):
left under a bit of a cloud after the second one,
and then comes back and he was a hero for
a couple of seasons and now he's gone again. I
don't know. You can see why he left because he
probably didn't think signs were good for this season. And
the thing with Costor he is absolutely desperate to get
to this World Cup to make up for missing out
(42:18):
in twenty ten, isn't he?
Speaker 2 (42:19):
Yep? He is, and I think that was at the
heart of his decision making when last season or at
the end of last season, he was weighing up his options.
He could have stayed at Wellington. There was an offer
on the table for him and the Western Sydney offer obviously,
and probably others as well. I think right at the
heart of his decision making was where am I best
(42:42):
placed to push for a case to be in their
World Cup squad lock. I think cost is going to
be at the World Cup. I don't think there's any
scenario apart from injury, under which he doesn't make that
twenty six man squad, but you want to be going
in with a bit of momentum. I just think last
season really affected Costa. You know, he was the one
(43:03):
bright spot in a fairly dismal Phoenix season. You think
about the previous season when they went all the way
to the you know, to the preliminary final, basically got
those thirteen goals and set ups of Varda's goal in
that marmless night in Wellington. He was absolutely top of
the pops. He was absolute tremendous and player of the season.
(43:24):
Last season it was just such a different kettle of fish.
He just looked like he was downcast because the team
had fallen so far, and I just think he waded
up and thought to himself while I think I'm better
somewhere else. And you probably can't blame him, but I
do agree that he hasn't quite fired at Western Sydney.
(43:48):
You know, got a goal on the weekend of penalty
which got him back. But I liken it to Olie Sale. Birge.
Remember when Oli Sale left left Wellington Phoenix and there
was a lot of talk about him getting a deal
overseas up in Europe, and he eventually signed for Perth Glory,
but it felt like that was only a temporary thing
before he got his big move. Well, not only did
(44:10):
he not get his big move, but he fell out
of favorite Perth Glory. Wasn't the first choice goalkeeper there.
Now back at Auckland's not playing there either and I'm
not sure is an absolute dead shirt to go to
the World Cup. So sometimes things work out and sometimes
they don't. And I think Ollie seals a caution retail
for anybody who thinks that perhaps the grass is greener
(44:30):
somewhere else.
Speaker 3 (44:32):
It's a great it's a great parallel Costa, you know,
because he's played a lot of clubs, so he's obviously
good at fitting in, but it's still always tricky to
get used to, especially a new club, new teammates, the
way they play. Ironically enough, the way the Phoenix play
are playing this season, Chief has become much more aggressive.
It probably would have suited Coster a lot, but last
season he would have got pretty tired of the fact
(44:55):
that there was just a lot of defending. He's not
getting many chances, not getting much bare It might have
worked out differently, and it's an interesting one, yeah, but
he still carries a bit of a grievance about twenty
ten because he'll probably think there were players that went,
you know, that he should have gone and he didn't.
(45:16):
And it's been a long time. So as you say,
he will be there, but you want to be going
there with the wet sale. You want to be going
there playing well because you know, at the moment, I
don't know, I don't know if Ben Wayne is now
your number two. Is Ben Wayne the guy you throw
on of Churs if you substitute Chris Wood, for example.
(45:36):
So that's what Costa has to prove that he's still
he's still the number two.
Speaker 2 (45:40):
Yeah, and look, Western Sydney got a bit of momentum
back with that one of a victory over the weekend,
hopefully for Costa's sake and my pre season prediction that
Western Sydney wonder Us would have win the plate. Hopefully
that's the start of them turning things around. But yeah,
and just on Costa, you were I think you were
at the press conference after the New Caledonia game when
he talked about the red card he got against Costa
Rica and how that has burnt him every day since
(46:03):
that then intercontinental playoff game, which you know, New Zealand
lost and failed to make the twenty twenty two World Cup.
And cutter, I remember Costa said that burns me every day.
So to score a goal which takes us what helps
take us to a World Cup as is really big
for me. You know, he's been around for a long time,
cost of barbarusis but clearly this is the one box
that he is absolutely desperate to tick, and that is
(46:26):
to go to a World Cup with New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (46:28):
Yeah. I mean that because I think that game in
Doaho came on and I think seven minutes later he
is off something like that.
Speaker 4 (46:33):
You know.
Speaker 3 (46:33):
I remember jumping in the hotel in the hotel elevator
the next day and I got in the elevator and
Matt Garbett and Costa and the elevator, you know, and
I didn't want to catch Costa's eye because I didn't
want even if you know, I have to say an
him term because I just felt so terrible for him
the way that it unfolded. But it's fascinating, as you say,
to hear him say, because footballers often find a way
(46:57):
to move on. But hear him say after that presser
that it's burned me and think about it every day. Yeah,
That's that's deep, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (47:04):
Indeed, indeed it is, Hey Neck, Thanks for your question.
Like I said, I get in touch with either of
us if you have a question, and we'll look to
answer some more in future podcasts. So this coming weekend,
all three New Zealand based A League teams are away
Friday night, Auckland FC away at Melbourne City, Saturday night,
Wellington Phoenix Women away at Canberra. Sunday night, Wellington Phoenix
(47:25):
Women A Sorry Men away at Sydney FC. That'll wrap
a podcast for today. Burge back to the tennis for you,
presumably once once it dies down after this week, you'll
be back. You'll be back next Monday for more football chat.
Speaker 3 (47:39):
Definitely can't wait, mate,
Football Fever the podcast keeping you up to date with
a beautiful game with the voice of football Jason Paine,
and ends in Herald's Makeel Burgess powered by News Talk Zby.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hello there and welcome into Football Fever. It's a pleasure
to be here as we discussed the beautiful game a
league football Aukland f C, Wellington Phoenix and on a
wider note, our national teams as well as we prepare
for a massive year in terms of the round ball,
I'm Jason Pine, Michael Burgess is here are speaking the
(00:32):
round ball. You've been watching a slightly smaller round ball
for the last week or so at the tennis burge
another week ahead. I'm surprised you've had the energy all
the time to watch any football and enjoyers to chat
about it.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Yeah, the fuel texts a bit low, but you know,
you keep like a road trip, you keep driving and
you hope that there's a petrol station coming up around
the corner. But it's been a fantastic week at the tennis.
We're so lucky to have that event. And also you know,
the season keeps on rolling and there's so much to discuss.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Absolutely well, there were games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
so let's go chronologically Friday nights on Corpse Stadium, Brisbane
Rawnell Auckland f C too. I thought about this game afterwards,
Birch and this was quintessential Auckland FC, going away from
home and just winning a very solid win. In your
match report you called it clinical. It was exactly that,
wasn't it. This was just what Auckland FC do now.
(01:25):
They just win football games, especially when they're away from home.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
It's the formula, isn't it. I think they're becoming the
envy of the league in a way, the way they
can just turn up these performances. I mean, they had
a point to prove, I know, the result here against Brisbane,
that draw where actually Brisbane probably the better team that
hurt them, That hurt them, They felt like they got outplayed,
but also Brisbane sort of out muscled them. So they
(01:50):
were going there with the point to prove, plus coming
off the MacArthur MacArthur getting a Lady equaliser and it showed,
you know, they were back back to what they do.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
It was just I don't know, at the risk of
repeating myself, it just seemed like such a such a
typical Auckland FC performance, something we got used to last year,
where they just went out there and they got their
goals and they kept their opposition at arm's length, and
they never really felt like they were going to lose
the game. Even at Wondill. I mean what, Lachlan brook
(02:20):
got his goal in the seventy third minutes, so it
was one nil up until then. But even at that,
you know, during the second half, I never really thought,
I mean, did Brisbane ever really threaten? I can remember
one shot quite near the end that Michael Vaut had
to deal with. Did Brisbane I know they were playing
their fourth game in ten days, but I'm not sure
that they really threatened, did they?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I mean that fourth game ten days is pretty tough,
and they didn't quite look like they have earlier this season.
But yeah, I can. I mean, it was late, wasn't
It was almost eleven thirty thinking back, But there were
a couple of chances towards the end, I think in
the last ten to fifteen minutes, but by then it's
two nil and you know the game's over. But as
you say, even even at one nil, I don't know.
(03:03):
I haven't seen too many teams in the A League
that are such good front runners. You know, Auckland, if
they get ahead, it's it's really tough for the opposition.
That they just love having the lead and they can
play on their terms, and especially away from home, where
you know that it's okay if they sit back a
little bit, although they didn't really sit back, but a
(03:25):
lot of ways to hurt teams and maybe with their
with their back forth from last year. I don't know
what you think, but it feels like they're looking a
bit more defensively solid as well, although Brisbane were limited,
so it's probably a tricky one to weigh up.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, I think they. I think they they're very good
defensively on the road. They've only conceded three away goals
in six games. And we'll talk more about their away form.
But you make such an interesting point about being good
front runners, and the stats would be that out urge
Auckland FC have never lost a game from one nell
up in their entire history. Yeah, if they score the
(04:05):
first goal, they either win or draw that game. They've
never lost from one nell up. So if you're going
to beat Auckland, you've got to score the first goal.
That's it. I mean conversely, the other part of that status.
They've never won a game from one nil down, so
it's quite an interesting little dynamic. If Auckland FC score
the first goal, they take at least a point. So
(04:25):
yet very good front runners and very good at being
top of the league as well. I mean Sydney, you're
kind of breathing down their necks. It's only halfway through
the season, but they don't mind being the hunted. I
don't think they almost beat their chest and and sort
of revel in the fact that everybody wants to knock
them over. It seems to energize them.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Yeah, it's a good point. Like I think other teams
and you see it in other sports it can be
a bit of a burden being the team that everyone
is hunting. It doesn't feel that way. I talk to
some of the people at the club at the start
of the season, said, how are you going to approach this,
because you know they did everything they could last year,
all but getting into a Grand final, winning the league,
(05:05):
et cetera, et cetera, and he's and he said, yeah,
we've refocused, We've come up with a different theme and
you know they're they're coming to get us. They're coming
to get what's ourse and we like that and that's
that's how it feels. There's no I can't detect any
any mental or emotional fatigue in terms of you know,
(05:28):
being the being the hunted.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
And certainly no, you know, no problem with the second album.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
No, not so far. No, it's Queen or Elton John.
You know, they just sort of rather than the rather
than the Elanas Morris att.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
That is brilliant. That is brilliant niche content there from you. Well,
do Sam Coles grove back into the starting side. It
seemed to give them a bit more structure. Cam Hollis
and also into the starting eleven. This is interesting, isn't it.
You know, he's a good player, Cam Houise and a
good solid player, has always been probably the best player
in our national league. Has had to sort of wait
(06:05):
for opportunities for Auckland FC because there are other players
who plan in his position who have been preferred. But
when you can bring a player like Cam Howison and
it demonstrates the depth, doesn't it at Auckland f C.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Again, Yeah, that's that's the thing. That that's that's one
of the key things, isn't it. Just just we we've
we've talked about this a few times on the podcast,
but the opposition team must must wonder because they either
have guys coming off the bench or they have guys
starting that haven't been starting that are almost as good.
That's a great position to be in house and really
(06:38):
really solid player. I'm just so pleased for him because
he had so many years, as you say, where he
he was playing at probably a level below where he
could he There's family reasons why he's you know, he's
probably good enough to play for other league teams in Australia,
but there were family reasons why he sort of needed
to stay in Auckland and and yeah, I just think
(06:59):
it's great.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Yeah, he's finally getting the chance to be a professional
and he's always been good enough, as you say, to
be one. And here we are, Sam Cosgrove open and
scoring early from close range. Francis of Vree's corner first
Aukland FC goal from a corner this season, which is
just remarkable really given how good you know the delivery
has been. And then Lochland Brook's goal. Can we just
talk a bit about this that it was in the
(07:21):
right place on the pitch, too, wasn't it for the
camera right behind lockland Brook as he sort of you know,
goes into the area, looks up and then bends an
absolute world off the post. This is a terrific goal
and just another one to add to Lochland Brook's already
impressive body of work this season.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Well, his confidence must be through the roof. I mean,
I can't imagine how it feels to score a goal
like that. Just must be amazing. There were you know,
there were We've seen someone like Mohammed Salah score goals
like that for Liverpool, you know where he just cuts
in and then bends it and hits the posted. Just
just absolutely fantastic strang and at a crucial time because
(08:03):
that's what didn't happen against MacArthur. You know MacArthur. I
felt they were ahead, they were going, well they're the
better team, but they couldn't get that second Brook goes
off and then there's a lad equalizer. So it was vital.
But yeah, he's got two amazing goals, well two crackers
this year and a couple other good ones.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, and so now do we have to now just
stop this conversation about where Lachlan Brook playsmo Mai again
came off the bench. I think Steve coraicup without knowing this,
I think has been trying to get them both into
the starting side and get the best effect out of
(08:42):
both of them. Lachland Brook and Gizumo may But is
there any argument now you have to start Brooking the ten.
You just have to, don't you.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Yeah, you do, because he's the best number ten in
the league at the moment, and he's just not nearly
as influential when he out wide or I saw what
Croker was trying to do. It's a weird situation that
your player of the year from last season, you know,
might not be starting. But Gemmmi is good enough to
(09:12):
reinvent himself and he can also still play as a striker.
They've got that option. So it feels like they've got
more options than last season. They've got more things they
can do. Maybe they can try Gimo on the left.
I don't know. But but Brooke at the moment, he's
he's a fixture. He's a fixture in the number ten du.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Yeah, absolutely, I totally. I think he's he's one of
the best players in the comp and while you're a
hot hand as he is. You can't dilute his effectiveness.
It's almost dereliction of duty if he puts them back
out wide. Now I get, I get the egos and
the and the personalities within a football team and a
(09:53):
guy like my, as you say, would be expecting to start.
He's an important player. He's just say player of the
season last year. But then you think Logan Rogerson had
to bide his time as well, didn't he Early on
this season he didn't get a lot of starts, in fact,
very few opportunities early on this season he's had to
buy his time. He started the last two games. When
you've got a squad like this, and we always talk
(10:14):
about depth and how important it is, you can't win
a camp with eleven players. Know, the balancing act for
a manager like Steve Kriker is that he has to
keep everybody happy and it's impossible, it's completely impossible. Just
talked about Cam Howison. That was only his fifth start,
I think in his twenty ninth or thirtieth appearance for
the club. Sometimes he doesn't even make the matchday squad.
(10:36):
It's all part of being a manager. And he's not
the only boss in the A League or in football worldwide.
Who has to deal with you know, good players who
reckon they should be playing, but ants. I mean he's
done well from the outside looking in anyway, Steve Kyrik
has done a pretty good job of it so far.
It's a nice problem. I'm sure a lot of other
coaches would enjoy the problem of the depth that he
(10:57):
is at his disposal.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
He's done well, done well with his rotation with when
he's brought players back. He's always loyal for as long
as he can be, and as far as I can
see last season, there weren't any big dramas. As you say,
there's always issues at a football club with egos and
players want to play, but so far it's pretty harmonious.
(11:19):
Gim is a good guy. Hell, he loves the team.
He'll want them to do well, and there'll be chances
there'll be injuries, Sam Cosgrove from memory of sitting on
a few yellow cards, so there could be a you know,
let's hope not, but there could be suspension coming up there.
GiMA can play striker, of course, it won't be a problem.
It's actually, like you summed it up perfectly, it's a
(11:42):
great problem to have because Croker got players all over
the place in form.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Yeah, and not just in the front third. You look
at Nander Pinneker has come back into the starting side
last two weeks. I wasn't sure how he's going to
get back in the starting side. He's come back in
and Jake Goodwood reyk has taken on a new role
of coming off the bench and when they go to
the back five, he fills that role. I think the
best example though, of a player who Steve Coriker has
managed in this fashion is Kellen Elliott. You know, he
(12:09):
he knew right from the start that he played the
same position as as the captain, as the best player
as Akiki, So he just he just did what he
needed to do in terms of whatever brief he was handed.
And this year, you know, with the hamstring injury to Psarkai,
he had a number of games where he started. Now
he's back in an impact role off the bench. So
(12:30):
I just think that's a great example. Steve Crocker's obviously,
you know, managed to find a way to keep Kellen
Elliott fully engaged even though he might not be starting
every game.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Yeah, great point, because Kellen Kellen made that point the
other other week when he said you know, I believe
I'm good enough to start. He's like any footballer, he
wants to believes he's good enough. But he said, I'm
you know, I've got the captain in my position, so
I'm realistic. But he'll keep pushing. And the clever thing
that Kroker does and also the luxury that has as
quite off an Aucklandft seat do have leads towards the
(13:02):
end of game. So sometimes he'll put Allied on with
twenty to go, fifteen to go, and that just keeps
players happy. You know, they're part of it. There's nothing,
nothing worse than not getting on at all.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Yeah, you often think that, you know when at the
end of the game, when you see guys, you know,
handshakes and everything after the game, often wonder about the
mindset of someone who hasn't got on. I know they're
all part of the same team, you know, and they'll
all say, hey, we're a team here. But yeah, if
you haven't got sweat on your brow, I'm not sure
that you enjoy it as much as your what if
you have navier shit soaking wet after a big shift. Anyway,
(13:36):
Steve Gorick a nice problem to have. Dan Hall's one
hundredth Day League men's game, his twenty sixth for Auckland,
seventy four previously for Central Coast. Another terrific performance from
Dan Hall. If we talk about players who you know
who will always play if available, I think Dan Hall
is certainly in that category. It takes Auckland the f
seat at the top of the table by two points
from Sydney FC. They do have a game in hand though,
(13:58):
Gee Birch, I'm so looking forward to these three matches
between Auckland f C and Sydney FC, and by quirk
of the drawer, they play each other on the final weekend.
I mean, how good would it be to come down
to that final game with the Premiers plate still up
for grabs when they meet in Sydney At the back end,
I think it's over Anzac weekend April twenty sixth from memory,
(14:19):
I mean it could still be alive right up until then.
This feels like, you know, these two are going to
battle of that for the Premiers played, because.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
That's always what the Premier Premier League like to do,
isn't it. They sort of stage games. But that they
have that as the final game of the season, brilliant.
I mean, so we're talking a bit of delayed gratification,
aren't we, Because so they're not going to play each
other till February.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
They played, Yeah, three games between February and wow.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
In of April. Yeah, so they're still Yeah, the Auckland
FC have still got three more games before they meet
Sydney and yeah, because of that canceled game and rescheduled
that the Quirkers, they'll play each other. You know, well,
Auckland will play Sydney home and then away ten days later.
So that little period could be very pivotal. When you
talk about six pointers, there's a twelve point swing there,
(15:06):
you know, if you want to look at it that way,
at the beginning of February. So the premiers Plate may
well be decided in those two matches in early February.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
It's going to be a great trilogy between the teams.
And you know, if telay'st got something to prove that,
especially that loss here last season that really really pissed
them off with that late the offside call in the
Nando's goal. So yeah, he they'll they'll really want to
get that back and it's going to be great.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Yeah, I think that that game. That's because White Tonguey
Day's the sixth, that's the Friday, Saturday, seventh of February.
Auckland f C at home to Sydney FC. That will
be an absolute belter. Can't wait for that. Just a
word on the traveling support too. Didn't look good having
all those Awkland FC fans in the stands that I
think they had organized a large number of them to
(15:55):
be at this game. The Port of Call I think
they call them great to see such good traveling support
for Auckland f C.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Oh, hats off to the port. I mean they looked
at the fixture list and they decided what's the game
we're all going to try and travel to and they
picked that one. I mean, Brisbane's a great place to go.
You can go down to the Gold Coast. It worked
out perfectly, and yeah, it just looks it looks fantastic
like it's looked the last few times the Phoenix had traveled,
especially that Melbourne game with all the Phoenix fans. So
(16:23):
it's just it's just a great time to be a
traveling football fan as well.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Absolutely absolutely so. Awkled FC are away again this coming
Friday night. They won't care. Can I just read this
record out? They've played twenty away games one to twelve, drawn,
six lost, just two thirty three goals scored, just sixteen
conceited in those twenty games. As I say, this year,
(16:50):
four wins and two draws away, just three away goals conceded.
Goodness me, birch. They conceded three in one game the
last time they played at home. They might be petitioning
the league to play all of their games over there.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Do Warriors to Warriors twenty twenty one and moved to
Australia because you know, the only two losses was were
the first distance starb in Perth, which is a bit
of a strange game, and it was.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
They played super late, so that's always hard. And then
the in the the dead rubber against Western United. It's
just it's just crazy.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Yeah, absolutely astonishing. So Aukland FC away to Melbourne City
on Friday night, that's the next assignment before they come
back home for a game against the Central Coast Mariners.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
The Football Beaver Podcast with Jason Vain and Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Let's go to Saturday afternoon at Pottidoor Park, Wellington, Phoenix
women won Melbourne City two, the eighth meeting between these two,
the eighth time Melbourne City of one, so they really
do have the Phoenix's number. First home loss for Wellington
Phoenix this season. When I look at this game and
hover above it, the one glaring point for me around
(17:58):
why Melbourne City won this game and why the Phoenix
weren't quite at the races was that CJ. Bott was
absent again. They desperately need her back. She's got a
bit of a knee knock. It's not a bad knee
injury as I understand it, but Wellington Phoenix are just
a much better team when CJ. Bot's in the team.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Well, it's become a thing in modern football to have
the defensive midfield of protecting the defense. We've seen it
in all kinds of teams and it's just so it's
like Forustralia with aalking to see. But it's so important.
And yes, c J. Bot has been has been amazing
for the Phoenix and you could just you could just
see the difference, couldn't because suddenly they looked vulnerable when
(18:45):
they really haven't.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
No, Well, in the first seven games they conceded two
goals in their last Sorry, they conceded four goals in
their first seven games, and they've considered that many in
their last two. And the common denominator that CJ. Bot
hasn't been there in the last two games. She just
does an incredible job of shielding her defense. And yes,
(19:08):
Alie Walker and Mac Bowry and Maurice Vandermier Advocz and
have done a great job behind her, but she just
adds that solidity. And for the second time they conceded
goals on the edge of the area. The first goal
from Letitia McKenna pulled back by a young player who
really impressed me, actually Danella, Buttris. She pulled the ball
back and on the edge of the penalty area. Letitia
(19:30):
McKenna was completely unmarked, untroubled.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
CJ.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Bott, if she's on the field, stops that from happening.
She's at the edge of the penalty area making sure
McKenna doesn't even get the ball, let alone have a shot.
So I know you can't put it all down to
one player, but she just seems so integral in this team.
Second goal was pretty soft defensively as well, So like
I say, I asked b F priestman after the game
what the situation was with CJ. And it wasn't one
(19:57):
where she said, oh well, she'll definitely be back next week.
I think it's kind of a week to week proposition
and cheap is with the knee injuries they've had. They
don't want to rush your back, do they. Last thing
you need is another long term knee injury for such
an important player.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Yeah, I mean she's she's also a leader in that team.
You know, she's a leader, she's such a big voice.
There's to be so many players, especially the New Zealand
players would look up to her because they're like, wow,
this is someone who's played in eure It for so long,
played at big clubs in England, so they really need it.
But yeah, the first goal in particularly just it wasn't
(20:29):
just the fact that there was no one tracking the run,
but it was one of those weird ones which you
do see sometimes where where all the defenders had dropped
back so far and they're almost you know, on the
on the goal line. So those kinds of things are
frustrating for the team and the coach.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Just on the injuries, how much impact do you think
there would have been from losing Samba during the week.
We talked about it on the podcast last week that
she had gone off and JD. We have since found
out that she is out for the season with an ACL,
which is just awful news considering that's three now with
Alissa Winnem and Tesla Midak also succumbing to ACL injuries.
(21:05):
Samba has been such a huge part of this team,
burch and has brought with her this massive Nepalese support.
Do you think that it's kind of natural that this
is going to have an impact for a week or so.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I do? I think I think just just emotionally, it
really must affect the squad of the players the club,
because everyone's only human, like. It's kind of become a
trend where these things happen and there'll be comments come
out the next day that you know, she's determined to
come back, and you know, we're going to be positive
about it, and we just got to move on, next
man up, next woman up, and that's fine, but far
(21:38):
out this this is absolutely huge blow. She was so
dynamic within the team, seemed to be a leader of
great presence, and then the fans she brought with her
were lifting the whole side as well, and there's just
no comparison, Like there's no other job where you're doing
it and then and then you're not, and you're gone
for twelve months like in our jobs, in any job,
(21:59):
you know, it just doesn't happen. And she just that's it.
It's gone for the season. And I just think that
this particular one, you know, it will it will affect them,
and I think that was probably you know, there's still
a bit flat from that on the weekend, as much
as they wanted to put it out of their minds
(22:19):
and everything else, because it's just bloody awful.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, it really is. And it's such a good point
you made, because I mean, what she adds on the
field obviously is impressive, but I feel like you're right,
it's more about everything she brings to the team. BEF
Priestman said, she is extremely popular within that team. You know,
they absolutely adore her in that team, not just because
she's a terrific player, but because she's a terrific person.
(22:45):
And yeah, she's still going to be in and around
the team, but it's very different when you know she's
off in the gym rehabbing by herself. She's not out
on the Grass, she's not traveling with them, you know,
to games. It's got to be a blow, you know,
it's you know, I mean without wanting to be too.
It's a bit like a death in the family, isn't it?
Or you know, you know someone who's not who was
there and had so much life about her and brought
(23:07):
with her so much and is now not there. So
we wish her a speedy recovery. Now happily new signing,
Mikayla Woods looks like she could be a bit of
already made replacement in terms of on the field stuff,
and she's a very sort of exuberant personality as well,
by the looks of it. Came off the bench at halftime,
had only arrived three days before, I hadn't played since October.
(23:29):
I thought she looked pretty good, energetic, scored a goal.
You know, may well be the player who replaces Samba
at center forward. I liked what I saw from from
Mikayla Woods, and I guess at least Bef Priceman has
that option now that she I think Woods was more
of a wide player at her previous clubs, but I
thought she looked pretty good playing down the middle on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Oh, it's a good for his impression. I mean, those
are the kind of goals that fans love, teammates love.
Because she wasn't favorite to score that goal. It took
a bit of a bit of courage and real determination.
But that's a sign that maybe she's one of those players.
You know, there's always kind of players that seem to
(24:13):
make things happen, that things happen around them, you know.
I think of someone like Shane Smelts back in the
day that somehow things happened around him. He scored goals,
her main goals, And maybe she's one of those kind
of players, which which is always great to.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Have, absolutely and you can never you can never know
until you get them in what they'll be like. But yeah,
I liked the look of her and she may well
play a big role. I also enjoyed Mania Elliott's second
half performance. She came on at a half time and
at a real impetus the Phoenix couldn't get the winner.
They had had corners, sorry and equalizer. They had corners
laid on which might have given them an opportunity, but
(24:49):
to no avail. Just a word on Rebecca Stott, I
just thought she was excellent again for Melbourne City the
experience Football Fern. Afterwards, coach Michael Matrisiani said, she's the
best player in the league and look, I think it's
a you know, it's a fairly good assessment. So Melbourne
City go top two games in hand. They're the benchmark
in the A League. Woman's a great response from them
(25:11):
as well. It almost felt like they had something to
prove after that last game where they scored right at
the end with their only shot. I wonder whether that
sort of stung them. But they were way more effective,
weren't they.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Oh this was yeah. I mean we would sort of
talked a lot about how good the Phoenix were and
how poor the Melbourne City were and everything else. And
it felt a bit like the Empire strikes back here.
You know. It was like the revel Alliance did well
in that game away from home, but the Death Stars
back sort of thing. I mean, that's a weird analogy,
but what I'm trying to say is that they have
(25:41):
been the benchmark and they showed why. You know, they
came to Piru Park, which is which is a tough
place to come and they were they were just really
really solid and I guess you saw a team that's
been together a long time, that super experienced against a
team that it's still still learning, growing and getting to
(26:03):
know each other.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Indeed, well, it drops the Wellington Phoenix out of the
top six for the meantime, but there's seventh on twelve points.
But they do have a game in hand and in
some cases two games in hand over the teams above them,
so I don't think there's any need to panic just yet.
It's a very tight table as the men's tables, and
we'll get to that in a second. The Wellington Phoenix
women next played Canberra away on Saturday night. This will
(26:25):
be a good test for them. Canberra are second, tucked
in behind Melbourne City. Of course, the two sides drew
one all in round one at Sky Stadium, so that's
Saturday night, seven thirty New Zealand time.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
Good balls Beaver with Jason Paide and Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Which brings us to Sunday at sky Stadium. Unbelievably windy. Look,
I've lived in Wellington for a long time, berg and
we're used to the win down here, but goodness me,
this was something else so challenging. Unbelievably windy, Wellington Phoenix two,
Adelaide United two. Now, the wind was blowing from north
(27:02):
to south, so as you look at it on TV,
that's from left to right on your screen. That's the
way the wind was blowing. It was a you know,
really strong northerly yesterday, gusting at times up to one
hundred and twenty k. But all four goals was scored
at the northern end, so theoretically into the wind, it
does tend to swirl at sky Stadium though, chief he
(27:22):
said afterwards, I hate cliches, but that was a game
of two halves, and it certainly was. I thought Wellington
Phoenix were pretty ordinary in the first half, but you know,
came right in the second. I guess, at too nil
down you take a point, don't you. But I wonder
whether they might consider that it was actually two points dropped,
given the dominance they had in the second half.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Yeah, it's mixed feelings, isn't it. When you come back
from two nil you get a drawer, it can feel like,
you know, almost like a wind. Certainly nice for the
crowd and everything else. But they had chances, they had chances,
and they finished the game well. Adelaide I thought were
always going to be a bit better than last time,
because that was a strange performance when they when they
(28:05):
came last time, even though Wellington were good, so you
felt like, oh, adelaide, ha got something to prove in
that's quarter. That second God's incredible. But yeah, Wellington games
at home when when you're coming home strong like that,
it would have been really nice to get that get
that third goal.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
They just weren't at the races in the first half,
and Chief you said afterwards, I wonder whether we worried
too much about the impact that the conditions might have.
There was so much made of the wind and it
was it was I mean, I think you know, whatever
level you play at, you take rain over wind any day,
wouldn't you. You know, a windy day just makes football
so it just isn't as much fun, is it. You know,
(28:44):
it's just really challenging and difficult and niggly and you
look to play a ball and it ends up somewhere
else and it makes good players look a bit ordinary.
But it was the same for both teams. As you say,
Ryan White and looked his elle second goal cracking so
two at halftime. Luke Brooks Smith came on halftime. I think,
and you've talked about this burge about him stacking performances.
(29:04):
I think for the second time in two weeks, he
had noticeable impact off the bench. He's just starting to
build quite a nice body of work, isn't he.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
I think so, And I think he needs but I
think he needs forty five minutes or thirty five minutes
rather than for a lot of the season he's been
getting twenty or twenty five. When you come on with
twenty or twenty five to go and you often have
been behind, it's pretty hard. It's pretty hard at any
level because you're sort of determined to make an impact
rather than just trying to do your job, and maybe
you try too hard and you just run out of it,
(29:36):
don't get many touches. You can't get your confidence to
run out of time. He's a young guy, so I
think the recipe with him is more game It will compound,
you know, the more game time he gets, the better
he's going to play. So yeah, I hope, I hope
that becomes a bit of a bit of a template
really where he's a either a halftime sober or an
early sub in the second half, and then hopefully starting
(29:59):
and because the ceiling is pretty high, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Yeah, Oh very much so yeah, but he's still very
young and and I like him as an impact player,
must say back, And I totally get what you're saying, though,
Burd You know, impacts one thing, but you're right. You
get on and all of a sudden, the game's over
and you think, well, what I imagine if he had
you know, more time, what would he achieve? And and
chief he said afterwards, you know, he's just got to
keep on building now, just has to keep playing well,
has to get consistent, because I think he was in
(30:25):
the first few games of this season he was He
was very inconsistent, and so I want yeah, so I
think it was great to see him yesterday play well
after having come on and set that goal up for
retro the previous week. And you know, got a few
pats on the back. He will have a few more
pats on the back today for the influence that he
(30:45):
that he made Isaac Hughes with a header from a
corner ten minutes into the second half, and then Corbyn
Piper making it to too. He's just an all purpose player,
Corbyn Piper, Isn't he have you sort of revised your
view on Corbyn. I'm not saying you necessarily dismissed him,
but he's quite an effective player, isn't he.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
Pipe Yeah, No, I never dismissed him, but when he
first came into the Phoenix team, I just wondered how
much of an impact he was going to make at
a league level. You know, I'd seen him around the Traps,
playing in the local football and I just wasn't sure.
But he's one of those guys that's risen to the challenge.
Everyone knows he's wholehearted and everything else and just give
(31:28):
so much. But he's also effective, you know, he's making
things happen.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
Yeah, and he's just a one hundred percent I think
I've made the comparison before here. It might it's been
a lot of Ben Sigmuent in terms of the wholehearted
nature with which he plays the game. Great to see
him get another goal. Used today. Tim Payne back for
the first time since breaking his collar bone in a
Round two, very solid return. He was only supposed to
play sixty minutes. At sixty minutes, the Phoenix are two
(31:55):
one down and chief he kind of got the message
out to Tim can you give us another five, and
thankfully Tim Paine said yes, because he set up the
second goal with his last action actually as soon as
that goal win and he was off. So he just
makes such a difference, doesn't he, Tim pain even after
being you know, out, there's no way he's got ninety
minutes in his legs. But I don't know. And it
(32:17):
actually took him a little bit of time to get
into the game, which is probably understandable. But I mean,
quality player, right, So, you know, good to have him
coming back for the second half of the season.
Speaker 3 (32:26):
Is he back? He hit a schedule pointing interesting.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
You ask, because there'd been very little in the way
of updates around Tim Payne, and then all of a
sudden last week they're like, oh, he's back in the
he's back in contention, So, I don't know how long
a broken collar bone normally takes to heal. I kind
of thought it was more like a twelve week proposition,
whereas he's back kind of you know, maybe maybe a
couple of three weeks ahead of that. I mean, yeah,
(32:49):
clearly he's passed all the tests and everything like that,
and they're happy for him to be to be back
in there. So yeah, I and I did enjoy it.
When the Phoenix went to a back four, I have
to say, I know they've played that in the past,
but you know they've pretty much gone with the back
three this year. At halftime, two all down, they went
to the back four. I thought that looked quite good.
It gave them an extra man further forward chasing the game.
(33:12):
I thought it was a good move.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Yeah, because sometimes it's the season has felt like they've
lacked bodies in the opposition half bodies in the opposition area.
So it's a nice option, and you know, it's something
I'm sure the coaching staff will look at. And on Pain,
it's just we talked about this when he got injured,
that Alex Rue for lacks lieutenants in this team. You know,
(33:35):
this sort of in terms of the leadership. Pain left
a massive vacuum just because guys like Scott Wins left,
Sam Sutton left, the guys who left the season before,
a lot of new players. So yeah, to have Tim
payin back, he's he's a guy that knows the club,
knows the team, knows what it means and helps to
set the standard, doesn't he.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Indeed, indeed, and they've Bill Tuoloma coming in as well.
So yeah, another lieutenant of sorts, even though he's new
to the side, you know, huge experience. Another all White
into the mix as well. His signing confirmed on Thursday.
We talked about it on the pod last week as
being highly speculated upon. It came to pass on Thursday.
He will travel to Sydney for the next game for Wellington.
(34:16):
Just an illustration of the game of two halves narrative.
First half, Phoenix had one shot to Adelaide's eight. In
the second half the Phoenix had fourteen shots to none.
I don't think Amon McCarron even hardly touched a ball
in the second half apart from when it got played
back to him and he restarted the attack. It was
incredible and the Finnish kind of won, you know, retray
(34:38):
off the bench at the post at two to two,
remenizerine at the bar. But as I say, at two
nil down, you know, with with fifty five minutes gone,
you probably take the point, do you. It's such a
tight table that you know picking up the point maybe
you know in the in the overall wash up it
might be a point very well won.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
Well, there's a lot more sweet than so from that game,
you have to say. So overall they'll be happy, you
know that they'll I guess the main investigation will be,
like you said, what was yesterday in the first half
and why did they start pretty flat? But I thought
the crucial thing was after what you described as probably
their best away performance in club history, they couldn't lose
(35:19):
the following week because that just burst a balloon completely.
So the fact that they got a point, they kept
the momentum going. They'll be coming into training this week still,
you know, with a swing in this step that I
thought was pretty important.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Yeah, a couple of other points in this game. Nikola
Maliusini finally debut for the Phoenix. He was signed in
the off season. It's taken him a long time to
get up to speed. He's had a couple of niggly
little injuries. He came on with seven minutes to go,
becoming Phoenix player number two hundred, had a late chance
to actually win the game. Well it was a half
chance blocked, but good to see him out there. Josh
olaway Amy failed a late fitness test and LB Kelly
(35:59):
healed actually tweaked his shoulder during the week, so on
the bench was sixteen year old goalkeeper Joseph Shellabie. He
was born but he was born about seven months before
the bar Rain game. How old is that? How old?
How old does that make you feel? Far out before
the Bahrain games? I mean, yeah, he was born in
(36:19):
two thousand and nine. This kid incredible.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
That's because Bahrain game is another another lifetime ago. But also,
how can you do that when you're sixteen? You know,
I was struggling to bloody work out how to cook
a meal, work out how to call a landline to
try and ask a girl in a date. Couldn't even
manage that, you know. And he's sitting on the bench
for an A League team.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Far out the new generation indeed, and he was apparently
in Melbourne during the week, just on holiday because he
wasn't expected to be you know, to be needed. You know,
they had allow Ammi McCarran and Kelly Healed. But yeah,
he got called back, apparently flew back from Melbourne on
Thursday night to sit on the bench. A great thrill
for the lad and yeah, obviously a cool thing for
(37:04):
such a young young player. Phoenix to fifteen points their tenth.
But the nature of the table is as we've said,
ad nauseum, so tight. They're just two points off the
top six and there are just four points between eight
teams from third place MacArthur down to the Phoenix intenth.
So it just goes to show how, you know, how
(37:26):
important it is to keep on picking up points.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
The Phoenix and.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Now the league's second highest goal scorers burge with nineteen
goals this season, but they've also conceded the second most
with twenty two. Now this isn't necessarily impediment because Newcastle
have conceded the most and their fourth Yeah I know.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
Yeah newcas I that titleddn't a couple of weeks ago.
But they've scored the most conceded the most I think
as well. Overall that's a good thing too, because the
Phoenix had so many issues with their final third output
last season and so the fact they scored goals is
a good thing. Okay, they're conceding, but always feel like,
I don't know what you think, but the defense is
(38:08):
kind of easy to fix up than trying to work
out how you're going to score goals.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Yeah, oh, absolutely no, totally agree. And yeah, the fact
that they are scoring goals, I think it was something
that was a criticism aimed at the last year, that
was they weren't attacking enough. They didn't get enough goals,
you know, to be able to find goals. Nineteen of them,
Like I say, only Newcastle have scored more through a
dozen games. I think as a good sign. You're right.
If you feel like you've got the ability to score goals,
(38:35):
you're always in matches, and yesterday it was a good example.
They're too nil down. You don't necessarily think you're out
of it because we've got goals in.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
Us exactly, exactly. Can I just since you brought up,
can I just ask you about the wind? Have you
ever spoken to any long term Phoenix players like you know,
I'm thinking Duranti, Sigmund or even Rufe of Pain about
how they deal with it on a week to week basis,
because like you say, a ball, you can handle the rain,
(39:01):
you can handle other things, but the wind is so
challenging mentally.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Yeah, oh totally. And it just beats you up, doesn't it.
You come off and your hair is all messed up.
Presumably I wouldn't know, but you know, you're all but
you're all a bit scratchy and no I haven't really,
I don't think, not from memory specifically asked, I guess
you assume that the home team, being Wellington, would be
more used to the conditions. I mean, it doesn't blow
that much in Adelaide or any of these other places,
so you think, okay, well they're going to be more
(39:26):
used to it. But I don't think that means that
you're more effective in it. And certainly Adelaide yesterday, well
they were tuning up, weren't they. So so no, I don't,
I haven't really. And and even afterwards, you know, right
at the end of his press conference, chief he said, look,
it was just you know, just well, I think he
even said it's unacceptable, not be allowed. I'm not sure
(39:48):
Mother Nature takes much notice of that sort of thing.
But yeah, I mean to come away with a point,
maybe both teams are pretty happy. Next up, the Phoenix
have two away games in New South Wales second place
Sidney FC at Ali End Sunday night. That'll be a
good game, then Newcastle the following Friday. Carlo Amiento back
from suspension. Bill Teloma as mentioned we'll travel. Whether he'll
(40:08):
play a part in one or both of these games
remains to be seen and just before we leave the Phoenix,
strong rumors that thirty year old Norwegian midfielder Santa Cartam
will join the club. He's at Hearts in Scotland, actually
a team made of former Nick's favorite Cam Devlin at Hearts.
He signed with them last January but hasn't featured at
all on the first team this year. He played nearly
(40:30):
two hundred and fifty games in Norway before signing with Hearts.
So there's a lot of mail around about Sander Kartum,
so we look for an announcement or some confirmation about that.
The transfer window opens on Wednesdays, so after that is
when they can look to bring a player in.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
Good Golfever on iHeartRadio and trued by News Talk, zedby.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
Want to finish today Burge with a listener question. We're
always happy to answer your questions. You can find one
of the both of us on social media. We're not
too difficult to find. Nick has got in touch and
said interested in whether you guys have a view on
Costa's decision to leave the Phoenix in order to strengthen
his case for the World Cup. Personally, says Nick I
was massively disappointed in him. Deciding to leave feeling he
(41:18):
could really be our central leader this season. Turns out
he's playing for the bottom of the table team who
have scored less than half as many goals as the Phoenix.
I wonder if Costa regrets it. Really interesting question, Nick,
thanks for getting in touch. Has Costa faded at Western Sydney?
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Well, I mean it happens to every player. You don't know,
it's hard to play in a team that is struggling. Althose.
You've pointed out many times They've got so much potential
Western Sydney and they could yet turn a corner. But
I would love to know what the average Wellington fan,
the Yellow Fevers think about Costa because it's unusual. And
he said three spells at the Wellington Phoenix, and he
(41:57):
left under a bit of a cloud after the second one,
and then comes back and he was a hero for
a couple of seasons and now he's gone again. I
don't know. You can see why he left because he
probably didn't think signs were good for this season. And
the thing with Costor he is absolutely desperate to get
to this World Cup to make up for missing out
(42:18):
in twenty ten, isn't he?
Speaker 2 (42:19):
Yep? He is, and I think that was at the
heart of his decision making when last season or at
the end of last season, he was weighing up his options.
He could have stayed at Wellington. There was an offer
on the table for him and the Western Sydney offer obviously,
and probably others as well. I think right at the
heart of his decision making was where am I best
(42:42):
placed to push for a case to be in their
World Cup squad lock. I think cost is going to
be at the World Cup. I don't think there's any
scenario apart from injury, under which he doesn't make that
twenty six man squad, but you want to be going
in with a bit of momentum. I just think last
season really affected Costa. You know, he was the one
(43:03):
bright spot in a fairly dismal Phoenix season. You think
about the previous season when they went all the way
to the you know, to the preliminary final, basically got
those thirteen goals and set ups of Varda's goal in
that marmless night in Wellington. He was absolutely top of
the pops. He was absolute tremendous and player of the season.
(43:24):
Last season it was just such a different kettle of fish.
He just looked like he was downcast because the team
had fallen so far, and I just think he waded
up and thought to himself while I think I'm better
somewhere else. And you probably can't blame him, but I
do agree that he hasn't quite fired at Western Sydney.
(43:48):
You know, got a goal on the weekend of penalty
which got him back. But I liken it to Olie Sale. Birge.
Remember when Oli Sale left left Wellington Phoenix and there
was a lot of talk about him getting a deal
overseas up in Europe, and he eventually signed for Perth Glory,
but it felt like that was only a temporary thing
before he got his big move. Well, not only did
(44:10):
he not get his big move, but he fell out
of favorite Perth Glory. Wasn't the first choice goalkeeper there.
Now back at Auckland's not playing there either and I'm
not sure is an absolute dead shirt to go to
the World Cup. So sometimes things work out and sometimes
they don't. And I think Ollie seals a caution retail
for anybody who thinks that perhaps the grass is greener
(44:30):
somewhere else.
Speaker 3 (44:32):
It's a great it's a great parallel Costa, you know,
because he's played a lot of clubs, so he's obviously
good at fitting in, but it's still always tricky to
get used to, especially a new club, new teammates, the
way they play. Ironically enough, the way the Phoenix play
are playing this season, Chief has become much more aggressive.
It probably would have suited Coster a lot, but last
season he would have got pretty tired of the fact
(44:55):
that there was just a lot of defending. He's not
getting many chances, not getting much bare It might have
worked out differently, and it's an interesting one, yeah, but
he still carries a bit of a grievance about twenty
ten because he'll probably think there were players that went,
you know, that he should have gone and he didn't.
(45:16):
And it's been a long time. So as you say,
he will be there, but you want to be going
there with the wet sale. You want to be going
there playing well because you know, at the moment, I
don't know, I don't know if Ben Wayne is now
your number two. Is Ben Wayne the guy you throw
on of Churs if you substitute Chris Wood, for example.
(45:36):
So that's what Costa has to prove that he's still
he's still the number two.
Speaker 2 (45:40):
Yeah, and look, Western Sydney got a bit of momentum
back with that one of a victory over the weekend,
hopefully for Costa's sake and my pre season prediction that
Western Sydney wonder Us would have win the plate. Hopefully
that's the start of them turning things around. But yeah,
and just on Costa, you were I think you were
at the press conference after the New Caledonia game when
he talked about the red card he got against Costa
Rica and how that has burnt him every day since
(46:03):
that then intercontinental playoff game, which you know, New Zealand
lost and failed to make the twenty twenty two World Cup.
And cutter, I remember Costa said that burns me every day.
So to score a goal which takes us what helps
take us to a World Cup as is really big
for me. You know, he's been around for a long time,
cost of barbarusis but clearly this is the one box
that he is absolutely desperate to tick, and that is
(46:26):
to go to a World Cup with New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (46:28):
Yeah. I mean that because I think that game in
Doaho came on and I think seven minutes later he
is off something like that.
Speaker 4 (46:33):
You know.
Speaker 3 (46:33):
I remember jumping in the hotel in the hotel elevator
the next day and I got in the elevator and
Matt Garbett and Costa and the elevator, you know, and
I didn't want to catch Costa's eye because I didn't
want even if you know, I have to say an
him term because I just felt so terrible for him
the way that it unfolded. But it's fascinating, as you say,
to hear him say, because footballers often find a way
(46:57):
to move on. But hear him say after that presser
that it's burned me and think about it every day. Yeah,
That's that's deep, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (47:04):
Indeed, indeed it is, Hey Neck, Thanks for your question.
Like I said, I get in touch with either of
us if you have a question, and we'll look to
answer some more in future podcasts. So this coming weekend,
all three New Zealand based A League teams are away
Friday night, Auckland FC away at Melbourne City, Saturday night,
Wellington Phoenix Women away at Canberra. Sunday night, Wellington Phoenix
(47:25):
Women A Sorry Men away at Sydney FC. That'll wrap
a podcast for today. Burge back to the tennis for you,
presumably once once it dies down after this week, you'll
be back. You'll be back next Monday for more football chat.
Speaker 3 (47:39):
Definitely can't wait, mate,
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