December 21, 2025 • 47 mins
Jason Pine and Michael Burgess review a superb weekend for the kiwi A-League clubs, including a record-breaking 7-0 win by the Phoenix women over Sydney FC.
The Phoenix men also claim a much-needed 3-1 victory against the Mariners, while Auckland FC reclaim top spot on the table, beating WSW 2-0.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Football Fever, the podcast keeping you up to date with
the beautiful game with the voice of football Jason Paine
and Insid heralds Michael Burgess, powered by News Talks hebby.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome and a very merry Christmas to you. The Fest
of season is, I guess you'd say, upon us, and
a pretty festive weekend and a successful weekend for the
three New Zealand sides involved in the A League's competitions.
I'm Jason Pine, Michael Burgess is here. Win win, win,
three WS three up, three down. Bird's not bad for
(00:33):
the three teams and the A leagues across the weekend
from New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Triple treaty was perfect. Wasn't it a great way to
start the fest of season? And I don't imagine it's
happened all that often since Auckland came into the league
that we've had all three teams went on the same weekend,
so pretty special.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Absolutely. I don't know that the Wellington Phoenix men and
women have won very often on the same weekend. I'll
get my statisticians onto it, but you're right, please do
It was a very very rare thing, but a very
pleasing thing as far as football on this side of
the Tasman is concerned. We might jump straight to Saturday
afternoon where we had a record breaking game at Pottydoor
(01:10):
Park the Wellington Phoenix Women's seven Sydney FC nil at
Pottydoor Park, most goals scored in a game ever by
the Phoenix women, biggest winning margin in Phoenix club history
by the men's or the women's team, and Sydney FC's
biggest ever A League women's defeat. BF Priestman said during
the week that someone's going to get a hiding from us.
(01:31):
Surely she couldn't have expected that it would be that
emphatic though, seven nil.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
You hear coaches say that quite a bit, that we're
do a big game, and often you think, oh, they're
just saying it to sort of to sort of make
things sound good or to give everyone confidence. But sometimes
they're saying it because they can see it coming, they
can see something in the inside and you know they
had been playing well. But that was that was what
you dream about, wasn't it. That's what you dream about
when you set up this woman's team, and especially with
(01:59):
the investment this season, to win like that, but to
win like that against the big team like Sydney there,
one of the biggest clubs in Australia.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, incredible really, and for so many reasons. It was
an important game, the fact that that had those two
games on the road and hadn't got a goal or
a point in either of them. I also heard birds
that before the weekend, off the back of last weekend's
results for the men's and the women's teams, that Rob
Morrison was absolutely apoplectic when he spoke with the club's
(02:33):
football department. They've invested a lot of money in the
women's team, as we know, the men you know, losing
at home to the bottom team. Rob Morrison was most displeased,
I understand, so he would have had a brighter smile,
I'm sure after the weekend. Certainly, Bev said to me
on the radio yesterday, I put a smile on the
chairman's face.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
We certainly did.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
It just looked good from the start though getting an
early goal I think is always a thing to do,
isn't it. It sounds so obvious, but having not scored in
the previous two for Mania Elliott to score in the
third minute, it kind of takes that pressure off and
and just you know, allows you to breathe a bit
easier from the start.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
It's the here we go moment, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
They had been unlucky, like I don't want to be
sound like a hindsight hero like Mike Costing likes to
talk about. But the previous the previous two matches, we've
been saying, Piney, they had played well, you know, they
had played well. They were desperate and lucky against Perth
to lose that match, and they had way more opportunities
against Melbourne City. So they had been playing well, but
(03:35):
it just hadn't hadn't happened for them, and there must
have been doubts. So to start so well and to
go on with it in the first half must have
been such a lift and they're thinking, Okay, this is
what this is what's supposed to happen, this is what
we've been doing in training and it's finally coming off.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Maybe or that that.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Shooting and finishing practice you suggested as well was definitely
helpful because it was spot.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
On, wasn't it. It took the goals.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yeah. The other thing you said last week, which which
has sort of resonated with me and I've been thinking about,
is that you said that you thought this would be
a team that was better in the second half of
the season than they have been in the first half,
or will be in the first half. Look, here we
are about six or seven games in, and I think
that's that's starting to look, you know, like a very
accurate prediction. Maybe it just does just take a bit
(04:21):
of time for a new coach, a new bunch of players,
a few injuries, just you know, lots of factors.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
You know.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
It wasn't like they've been playing poorly either, they just
hadn't been getting the results. I don't think that their
performance has perhaps deserved. Look this, this feels like a
watershed moment. Will we look back at the end of
the season and say, look, that was it the seven
mill against Sydney FC. Is where this season actually began?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Possibly? Yeah, Like it's the old turning point, isn't it.
They had to win. But to win like that and
to have the clean sheet, I mean, that's a pretty
good foundation for what's coming.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
And they've they've got good players, They've got a good squad.
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
I'd started to hear over the last week a bit
of criticism of Samba and saying that, oh, it's great,
she's got all the support and you know, it's amazing
that the Nepalese that had come out everywhere they play.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
But she's got to start producing.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
But my argument was, well, she has actually looked quite good,
so someone like her, what a boost. And also think
of the young players in that team ay that like,
imagine how they'll be feeling.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, incredible. It must just be such a boost to
have a result like that and to know, okay, we
are actually a team that can score goals. Samba's first
two goals for the club. Grace Charlie got a couple
as well, the early one from a Nia Aliat those
two late own goals. Incidentally, the third goal was Wellington
Phoenix's one hundredth A League women's goal. But what I
(05:51):
really liked Birde was they didn't sit back at three
nil or four nil or five nil even you know,
they kept going, but also retain that defensive base because
when you're five nil up, it's easy to let one
in because it doesn't matter, right, five nil, five to one,
you still get the three points. But it seemed as
though they were still very very keen on that clean
sheet even though the points were well and truly secure
(06:14):
by that stage.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Yeah, it's a good point, mate, Like the hunger was there,
wasn't it. You see other games real ends up, you
know six two or six three even, you know, because
everything gets a bit loose and you just start going
for things and forget about defending. But it wasn't the case.
You know, they stayed on their assignments but still wanted more.
So very positive signs. I mean, they know they've dropped points,
(06:38):
that's the thing. Though. They know they've dropped points. We
talked about it last week. There should be another four
or five points up the table. But now the chance
comes to make those points up in the coming weeks.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
And it actually doesn't matter too much because the table
is so tight. Yes, of course, they would have loved
to have had those points, and they'd be probably well,
they would be in a better position than they are.
But as this win has taken them to eight points,
they're in eighth position. But they're you know, there are
only two points behind the third placed Central Coast Mariners,
(07:10):
and they've got a game in hand because of the
uneven nature of the competition where there's a bye, so
you know they're they're there or thereabouts. Can we talk
about the away form because they go away next to
second bottom Western Sydney on Tuesday night. Huge chants this
to claim a first away win of the season and
(07:30):
jump into the top six. But I don't know what
you think whether the whether the the away day blues
of previous teams can be you know, automatically assigned to
this team because they have played well, haven't they away
from home against Melbourne City against Perth could have easily
got something out of both of those games. So maybe
the away day blues are something from seasons past. I
(07:53):
don't know what you think.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I think so yeah, I think it's unfair to tarnish
them with that the club has struggled away. We all
know that the clubs women's teams struggled away, but this
team feels different. It felt different just in those two performances,
like to do what they did against City restrict their
chances have so many of their own chances, Perth played
them off the park. This is it's definitely a new
(08:17):
beginning and let's hope that starts to show through away
from home. They're much more professional, They've got much more
resources behind them, so you think that would pay off
and it has to, doesn't it, because if they're going
to be contenders, they can't just rely on their home form.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
No, exactly right, they do have to win their away
games or certainly get points away from home, and like
I say, it feels as though away at second bottom
Western Sydney on Tuesday night is a massive chance to
capitalize on the momentum that they would have gained from
the winover over Sydney FC. Just a word on Grace
jarla second goal as well her tenth for the club.
She is now the equal top scorer in the club's
(08:55):
women's history with ten, alongside Maddy Ana Spekma. So you'd
have to think that she will at some stage take
that mental interesting and we've talked a bit about Grace
Jarlay and where her best position is just sitting a
bit deeper with you know, c J. Bott, I guess
the deepest of the midfielder. Is Grace still able to
sort of you know, play a bit further forward but
make her impact in central positions. Maybe that is the
(09:17):
place for her. Maybe we've finally landed on Grace Charlie's
best position, Birch.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
It's taking a while and we've discussed this, you know,
whenever we were catching up around the Ferns and Woman's
World Cup and everything. I just I think you felt
the same. Just always felt she was wasted out wide.
So as long as she's central, whether it's further forward
or striker or a bit deeper, but as long as
she's central, I think she can make an impact. And
(09:44):
by the way, I love that story about Rob because
he's such a busy guy. You know, he doesn't get
involved that much. But when he's coming down and banging
his fists on the table, you know that, you know
that something's happened. I don't know something to change. You know,
he's a pretty how would you describe him. He's a
pretty understanding and patient guy. You know, he's not one
(10:08):
of those owners that flies off the handle that you
see in Europe. But they're obviously there had come a time.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, I'm not sure i'd want to be on the
end of a displeased Rob Morrison. But look it's obviously
worked because both teams pulled their socks up and got
the results they were after. So the Wellington Phoenix Woman,
as I say, next away against the Western Sydney Wanderers
on the thirtieth of December.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
The Football Fever Podcast with Jason Vine and Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Let's jump back to Friday night, Western Sydney Wanderer's nil
Auckland f C two at Combank a third straight win
for Auckland f C. They reclaimed top spot for the
first time since round four. This felt like a quintessential
game of two halves to me, birds not particularly inspiring
in the first half, a reset at halftime. I'm second
(11:00):
half very good, a functional Auckland FC two nil win
away from home.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
Good performance, really.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Good performance and really good result. I mean you're right
about the first half. But Western Sydney were playing well.
They looked like the team that they can be and
that you were hoping them to be when we did
our pre season predictions. I mean, they're a good side.
They were playing well and Auckland just were very sloppy.
They couldn't keep the ball. They were killing themselves with
(11:29):
some bad passing and it looked like the Wondrous press
is really good, didn't it. So they were pressing, putting pressure.
Auckland couldn't put their own pressure on but as we've seen,
it gets repetitive. But they found a way to stay
in the contest rather than be too kneel down. You know,
they defended pretty well and then it was still game
(11:50):
on at halftime.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Yeah, Boja cry hitting the post in the first half
would have been the closest that Western Sydney came to
opening the scoring and year they just haven't haven't found
what they're after in the first eight or nine games
of the season. They've got the talent, there's absolutely no doubt,
they've got the roster to be a lot better off
than they are. And the tables so tight and I'm
sure they will climb into the upper echelons, you know,
(12:12):
perhaps in the early part of the new year. But
I just the all Auckland FC again just controlled the
game so well in the second half. They scored after
fifty seven minutes. Now on that goal that's been given
to Jesse Randall, that goal officially by the A League.
How has Jesse Randall been credited with that goal? If
I'm Sam Cosgrove, I'm writing a very very stern letter
(12:36):
and I'm sure he won't because he's not that kind
of guy to the questionable goals panel if such a
thing exists, and asking them how on earth it's been
credited to Jesse Randall.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
I mean Jesse was lying on the ground. He could
have been asleep.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
It could have been asleep, and it just sort of
hits his ankle, Like in what universe does that become
his goal? I just this kind of thing really bugs
me because it must really bug the players even though
they never say it. And I'd just love to know
who makes this decision. Have they ever played football? Do
they understand, you know, what what what a vital deflection
(13:14):
is and what's not. I just i'd like to see
I don't know, maybe a sort of media briefing. They
can do it occasionally, like the NRL do where they
came out on Monday and they explain the different things,
because it's just nuts.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
We'll put it this way. If that's a defender on
the ground and Sam Cosgrove takes the shot and it
flicks up off the ankle of the defender and into
the net, a shot that's already on target. You've seen
it from behind. He's shot, it's on target. It's obviously
taking the deflection and gone up into the into the
upper part of the goal. But if it's a if
(13:48):
it's an opposition player, is that an own goal? Is
that called an own goal?
Speaker 4 (13:53):
Not normally?
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Not normally, like I think we all we're all overthinking
things in this sage and we sent to find things
that aren't there. I mean, even the way they gave
Cosgrove the goal in Wellington. Maybe he'd touched it just
before the line. I don't know, I haven't seen the footage.
That kind of makes sense, but it's still blood annoying.
But this one was just just nuts.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Imagine if you had money on Sam Cosgrove as the
first goal scorer, and I'm sure people would have, you know,
how does that get explained? I mean, I know that's
not the main thing here, but anyway, we're probably dwelling
on it a bit much. And as you say, maybe
justice for Jesse Randall after Costrove kind of did steal
that goal off him in Wellington. If it had been
given to Cosgrove, he'd be top of the Golden Boot
now with five. As it stands, he's on four with
(14:36):
about five or six other players. But yeah, look, I
think the most important thing is that the ball went
in and Auckland had their one nill lead, and from
there it felt very much like the previous weekend that
they were in control of the game, weren't going to
lose it just a matter of whether they score another goal,
which they did. Lockey Brook play broken up by the
excellent Louis via Strata. In midfield, Brook cuts inside scores
(14:58):
against his former club. Gee. I like the way he's
playing at the moment Burge. I know it's early, but
he is starting to creep into Johnny Warren Metal consideration.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Lachland Brook.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
I just love the way that he has adjusted the
life at Auckland FC in a couple of different positions
and impacts every game of football that he plays.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
He does.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Yeah, he's he came back with something to prove, didn't
he because the MLS hadn't really worked. But everyone knew
he's a good player. That's what makes it such a
such a smart signing. And it's obvious he has adjusted
so well to Croaker's system, which probably isn't easy for
someone like him because he's an attacking player who wants
(15:41):
to He's more focused on stuff in the final third,
adjusted well, gets on well with the group and as
you say, I mean it's quite it's quite unusual to
be able to play two positions so well, isn't it
the way he has?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (15:57):
And he may have to as well revert to where
he was because we had really good bench impacted from Kazuma,
Mai and Felipe Guy Goss who came on ten minutes
after the break. Hiroki Sarki joined them in the sixty
third minute. Rogerson, Brummer, Elliott are all replaced. How will
Steve Corriker manage this burge? Because much as all the
(16:19):
players will say, we want what's best for the team,
and whatever's best for the team, those players all want
to play. They all want to play, and they can't
all play. You can't play Cosgrove, Randall, Brook, Rogerson and Mai.
Let alone start thinking about Francois and Gillian. You can't
really play both Sarki and Elliott. You can't really play Verstrata,
(16:41):
Brummer and guy Goss. How is he going to do this?
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I think it's one of his biggest challenges because one
of the best things about auckland see last year was
that Okay used He used his player as well, and
he gave them more time when he could. But people
accepted their roles on or off the you know, on
the field, or on the bench really kicking stones. The
culture was good and you don't always see that, you know,
So his challenge in the second season will be can
(17:06):
he keep everyone happy or is there going to start
to be a bit of dissatisfaction because, as you say,
all those players would expect and be entitled to think
they're good enough to start My will be a will
be an ongoing one, and that they're not going to
risk anything because he's so important. So he might continue
to be an impact player with his knee. But the
(17:28):
other two, I mean, Felipe was a regular last season,
wasn't he was? He was one of the first pick.
Broom has been going well, but I don't know, does
it Does it become a thing where you replace the
midfielder after sixty five seventy minutes for the extra energy?
Speaker 4 (17:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I personally don't like it, but maybe it's the way
the game. The game's going, especially the A League because
it's so fast, so transitional.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
What about Sarkai? He comes back, doesn't he when he's fit.
Elliott's been good, very very good, good player. But if Hiroarki,
Sarki can play ninety minutes or certainly if he can
start a game. He starts the game, doesn't he's club captain, he.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Does, he does, He can't leave him out.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
And Callum was really good on that last week in
the media session, he said, you know, look, Hierroki's a
club cap, then he's a legend.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
I still think I'm good enough to.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Play, and i still want to play, but I'm also
realistic with the situation. So I love that attitude. I mean,
what Couraker can do is bring Callen on sometimes with
tend to go if the game looks and also he's
an option to bring on further forward as well, so
there are ways to skin it. But yeah, Hiroki, he's
got to be there because he brings so many other layers,
(18:37):
doesn't he.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Yeah, it was just great to see him out there.
And he made one run down the right hand side
which almost suggested right on back my hamstrings fixed. You know.
He set off down the right and you don't often
really see it from haruky sark guy. He doesn't get
forward as much as Devrees on the other side, but
he just sort of it was almost like he was
making a point. He carried on with the ball for
(18:58):
about forty fifty meters all the way up to the
attacking half, and so maybe he was saying to Steve Corrick,
all right, I'm I'm ready, I'm And it would not
be a surprise at all if he starts against Sydney
FC on Saturday, massive game which will get to in
a moment. But just even talking about the selection problems,
wouldn't some other coaches love the problems that Steve Gorrick has.
Wouldn't chief he love love some issues like this? So
(19:20):
do I play? Do I play Guy Goss or Brummer?
Do I play Elliott or Sarkai? Do I play my
or Brook or Rogerson or Randall? It's I mean, these
are wonderful problems to haven't they?
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Well? Is this the best bench in the league?
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Has to be, has to be, has to be?
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Yeah? I think so? Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
No, I mean you look at the well when you
can have when you can have three imports on the bench,
and often if you you know, we often talk about
imports and think, okay, well that they need to be
starting players, and when you can have three of them
on the bench because of being kept out. You know, yes,
there's been injuries and I know that, and players coming back,
but when they can they can add impact off the bench.
(19:58):
I mean imagine looking over and seeing my and Guy
Goss and Sarki coming on for the last thirty minutes.
You know, if you've held the Auckland FC to to
a relatively close scoreline, look over and you see that
is your impact. I mean that's got to be disheartening
it itself, doesn't it.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
It's some mer till or is it?
Speaker 3 (20:14):
To look up and not see now they're coming on
and I'm feeling tired already. Yeah, it's a great situation
they've got themselves in.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
You've got a piece in the Herald this morning regarding
Auckland f C's travels and I just want to read
a bit from it which talks about the facts of
the matter. The club as yet to taste defeat you
right in New South Wales, Queensland or South Australia have
only lost two of sixteen A League matches outside New Zealand.
The first was in Perth in January. The second came
against Western United and a dead rubber in May, a
(20:43):
week after they'd wrapped up the Premier's plate, with the
squad probably still in celebratory mode. Two losses in sixteen
away matches. That is no one would have a record
like that. Why have they been so good on the road.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Yeah, I think it's remarkable, especially you know for a
trans Tasman team. I mean there's probably a few elements.
They've got the recipe right, they have tweaked things over
time and they now fly two days before, which is
a luxury. What would that cost them an extra ten
grand to stay an extra night, I'd say something like that.
So that's a luxury. That's what resources can do for you.
(21:23):
But more than that, it's definitely a mindset thing. You
know that they had some tricky games away in the
early part in their first season and they got through them,
you know, and I think it's just just built from there.
Obviously as well, they're defensively very solid. But man, it's
not easy to travel and get results, really isn't. And
(21:45):
the fact I've done it, I don't know, I just
find it. I just find extraordinary. Really, it is extraordinary.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
And it's not an away game as a side based
in New South Wales where Sydney FC go away to
Central Coast, Marras is now up the road, Newcastle two
hours up the road. Even if flying into State is
an hour unless you're going across to Western Australia. This
is major international travel every time they go. And look
Wellington Phoenix, both the men's and the women's sides, as
(22:16):
we've mentioned, have had real trouble, you know, putting together
any sort of consistency on the road, but to only
lose twice in sixteen games, one of which, as you say,
was effectively a dead rubber after they won the Premier's plate.
So one proper away loss and that was the Perth
Glory who were bottom. I think at the time it
(22:37):
was an absolute aberration. So look, it probably needs to
be studied and other teams. I mean, certainly Wellington would
love to have that sort of a way day form.
They'd go again, don't they. So if they traveled two
days before, does that mean awk see a traveling on
Christmas Day to get to Sydney for the game on Saturday?
Speaker 4 (22:54):
They are?
Speaker 3 (22:55):
They are, So that's another little challenge. They'll travel in
the afternoon, as I remember that, I think they've got
a three pm flight something like that, so you don't
got to be the airport one o'clock, so you have
your family time in the morning and then boom, you're
off to the airport on the plane.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Not ideal, but they are a close knit group as well.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
They do enjoy spending time together and I guess they
see these trips as well as a chance for team
bonding and stuff. But it's certainly not your not your
ideal Christmas day.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
No. But then, having said that, and you made this
point last week, there aren't a lot of players in
the team who have families. You know, a lot of
them have partners, but they're you know Hiracki, Sarka's got kids.
A couple of others may as well, but most of
them I think you know a young girl on that
so they haven't started their families yet. So so you know,
it's not quite as bad, isn't it saying goodbye to
(23:47):
your wife or your girlfriend. If it's just them, they
can see their family. You know, that might be quite nice. Actually,
you go and see your family. I'll go to Australia
for a game of football. I'm not a castle aspersions
on any of the partner's families, of course, with dangerous
or very dangerous, very just but look, it's obviously worked
for them and this is a massive game away at
Sydney FC Saturday Night one v Two, first of three
(24:08):
games between the two this season. It feels like these
are the top two teams, not just on the table
but in the A League. While other teams are taking
points off one another and sort of scrapping and losing
the odd game here and there. It feels like these
are the top two. Having said that, Newcastle they have
beaten Sydney FC. That was an impressive win. Have we
been a bit harsh or Newcastle They've beaten Sydney FC.
(24:29):
They've come to New Zealand and beaten both Auckland FC
and the Wellington Phoenix. They're obviously a pretty good side.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
I just thought maybe we look back we were because
you know, they were bottom when they beat Auckland, then
they were bottom when they beat the Phoenix. But maybe
they're definitely not the worst team in the league, and
they've got all these young players. But to beat Sydney
they look like they did. That's pretty impressive because I
like what I've seen from Sydney and I've got no
doubt that ufuk Tale will be really up for this.
(24:57):
He would love to beat, not just especially Steve Gyker's
former clubmate but to beat Auckland. So this this will
be absolute beauty.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Well, and Steve Coracker still gets a bit misty eyed
when he talks about Sydney FC. You know, I noticed
he was asked to, you know, and I don't mind
it from him. I have to say, I've come to
really enjoy Steve Coricker's media, you know, conferences. I just
think he's he's so honest, like because it would be
easy to say, no, Sydney, that's my past team. I've
(25:27):
got no you know, I don't. I don't think about
them anymore. He still gets He still gets a bit
nostalgic and fair enough to he was ever ages. But
I like that about him. I just like it, like
that he sits there after a game and just tells
the truth, you know, and it seems so obvious, but
he you know, I'm really liking just the authenticity that
he brings. He'll you know, it's like art, isn't it
(25:49):
as well? So it's not it's be nice and you know,
sort of condensed in there, but of a hostile atmosphere.
Could be a cracking game, Birch.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
It could be beauty.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
I really think it could be one of the best
games of the season so far, and I love your
point about Croaker. Could also think the first game against Sydney,
which was what round two last year, wasn't that Yeah,
that was a big moment. But since then, actually I
remember him saying last season every game has still felt
a bit weird because he was he was part of
(26:17):
the furniture.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
He's a Sydney icon.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
I mean, what was he at the club for sort
of almost twenty years, So it's still going to be strange.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
But he is. He does manage to.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Say what he thinks in press conferences. He's not maybe
as careful as other coaches, and authentic is a good word.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
And also there's no doubt once the game starts, which
you know which side he's on. He might be in
his old stamping ground, his spiritual home, but there's no
doubt at all that he is an Auckland FC coach
through and through when the game starts. So you're looking
forward to that one Saturday night, seven o'clock at Leichhardt
as Auckland FC go back on the road to take
on Sydney FC.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Good balls either with Jason paid and.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
So let's go to Sunday afternoon in the Sunshine again
at Sky Stadium in Wellington. Wellington Phoenix three the Central
Coast Mariners. One great weekend for the Phoenix seven nil
on Saturday, three to one on Sunday, much needed win
for the Phoenix men. They were last going into the
game because Melbourne Victory had won the night before, but
they jumped from last to seventh and just one point
(27:21):
behind the team that currently sits in fourth place.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
So it's so tight.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
But just how big a win in the overall scheme
of things, the landscape of the points table going into
the game, and just for the confidence of the team
and its fans was this.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
It was massive. It was massive.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
We talked about it at length last week about the situation,
and they couldn't afford anything less, especially against the Mariners
who have been struggling so much themselves, especially when they've
got the schedule they've got coming up away from home.
But mainly just to show that they still believed in themselves,
(27:59):
still believe than the coach, and to offer everyone else,
everyone else some belief because it had been dwindling. So really,
really really big result. It's only one game, but it
feels a bit more important than that.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Yeah, I agree, as far as as a boost at
the right time is concerned, and it came with a
bit of adversity as well. Josh olaway Amy, who's been excellent,
you know, one of the best goalkeepers in the league
in the first couple of months of the season, injured
in just the eleventh minute making a save. Actually he
came off with what looked to be an ankle injury.
He was in a moon boot, so I haven't heard
(28:36):
any update yet as to how long he might be
out for. Almost certainly going to miss the next game.
But whether it's just a bad twist or a bad spray,
or whether there's something worse than that, I guess we'll
find out. But what it did do was open the
door for an A League men's debut for eighteen year
old goalkeeper Amon McCarran. He had played against Rexham mid
year and in the Australia Cup, but a big, big
(28:59):
occasion for I think reserve goalkeepers always know they might play,
but most of the time they don't. What would it
be ninety five percent of the time, probably even more
than that. You sit on the bench. You know, you
warm the keeper up before the game. You sit on
the bench, but you never get the call eleven minutes
in this eighteen year old kids out there are a
pretty crucial game.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
It it must be. It must be so hard because
as you say, you're sitting on the bench, you think
of other things. You know you're not you're not going
to play. You're a bit relaxed, and suddenly boom, it's
on and you're out there. And for a young guy
rather than the you know, for a guy, it feels
like he's gone from number three to number two, which
(29:41):
is kind of unusual, isn't it. Its number three keeper
stays as number three keeper.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
I think it's a really interesting point because if I
remember last year, about midway through the season, Janklotaliano decided
to make a change in goal, wasn't happy with what
Josh Olowaymey was giving him, and I made the decision
to bring lbie Kelly Healed INSS number one, so basically
swapped as one and two a round and LB Kelly
Heild played, i think from memories, seven or eight games
(30:10):
before injuring his shoulder in training and then being ruled
out for their is to the season oll Away and
he came back in and that was that. But if
lb Kelly healed was number one last season. He's back
from that injuries, played half a dozen National League games.
He sat on the bench I think a couple of
weeks ago, but obviously didn't get on. Has he gone
(30:30):
from number one to number three? What's happened there? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (30:36):
I mean I don't know.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
I mean goalkeeping a mystery to me anyway, and it
seems that the only people who understand are the goalkeeping coaches.
You know, they have their own little club and they
trained together and they talk about it. But it's unusual.
I can't remember that happening at too many clubs. I
thought Albie did quite well last season, although I always
felt Josh should be the number one, given as whose
(31:00):
background and his pedigree.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
So yeah, it's unusual.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
I think the reason for the change, or one of
the reasons for the change, was that Chief you liked
Albi Kelly Held's ability to play with the ball at
his feet, and that's always been a little bit of
a question mark over Josh. He's a terrific shot stopper
and has actually improved with his feet, but still gives
you the odd nervous moment. But I think he's the
better shot stopping goalkeeper, and I agree he should be
(31:27):
number one and his performances a season. Even if Albert
Kelly held was available, I think Josh would have had
the gloves. But it just seems odd to me. But
we don't know what happens, you know, in training and stuff, chief,
he said after the game yesterday. It's a contestable position
that number two spot. Amon mccawran is currently ahead of
Albi Kelly healed and almost certainly will start against Victory.
(31:49):
I have to say, though, Burge, if I'm the Central
Coast Mariners, I'm peppering Amon mccawran's goal. They hardly tested
him yesterday. I know for a fact Melbournevie will be
absolutely peppering Amon mccarran's goal on the weekend.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
It was a bit strange, wasn't it to be to
not see a few more shots and just not flinging
in some more crosses, just to hey, there's a kid
and goal. He's just come on, let's see what he's
made of. That's the standard thing in any level of football,
isn't it. Let's test the new keeper, Let's give him
a bit of grief, Let's do a bit of sledging,
(32:25):
all that kind of stuff, and it didn't really happen,
which was a surprise.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
And when it did, they scored. They had the shot
from outside the area. He's gone across to his left,
I'm sure, and any goalkeeping review and I'm not a keeper,
neither of you, and like you, it's a bit of
a mystery to me sometimes, but he should do better
with that, shouldn't he. I know's I don't want to
be too hard on an eighteen year old on debut
who's come off the bench unexpectedly, but as he goes across,
(32:54):
it seems to me as though you either hold that
or you push it wide. The fact that he's sort
of patted it back into a position where Sabaitnor was
able to come in and tuck it away, that's a
goalkeeping error for me. And look again, it's his debut,
and beyond that, I think he was pretty solid. But
it's still I think has to come under under scrutiny,
(33:15):
and it makes it so strange to me why the
Mariners didn't didn't do that more, just fire shot him
from anywhere. Maybe you know, I'd have to have a look,
but maybe McCarran was protected a lot better by his
defense than I initially thought. But look, good luck to
the kid. You know, he'll have a he'll have an
absolute baptism of fire from it in a starting debut
(33:38):
at Amy Parking against Melbourn Victory on the weekend. And look,
I guess we'll find out a lot more about him
then we will.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
And the Phoenix have got a pretty good record of
bringing through young keepers, you know, they have done it
plenty of times in the past, so I'm looking forward
to seeing more of him. And but you are right,
he just needed to push that ball a bit further away.
It was a nice, very clever finish from a very
(34:04):
tight angle, but just need to push a bit away
because it could have been really costly to concede in
the fiftieth minute, basically after having the lead. In the
end it wasn't but could have been.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
It could have been. They got the lead in the
thirty sixth Corbyn Piper. This was a terrific piece of
football from Kazuki Nagasawa, who I think just quietly is
just growing into quite an important part of this team.
He stole the ball in midfield, drove forward, played a
really clever pass into Piper who did what of control
and then knock it passed Andrew Redmain for one nil.
(34:39):
Nill makes it, makes it one all at half time.
As I understand it, Birch Jihan Carlo Ataliano absolutely blew
up at halftime, peeled the paint off the walls inside
that changing room for letting the Mariners back into the
game in the fashion that they did. He wasn't having
a go at Amon McCarran, as I understand that, he
was more annoyed about Hughes playing the pass to is
(35:00):
a is not holding on to it. The marin is
getting the ball Rufer being stood up on the edge
of the area to allow the pitch you go to
get the shot away. And then Kelly held and James
not reacting quick enough when the ball was spilled by McCarran.
By the sounds of it, he absolutely went to town
on them at halftime.
Speaker 4 (35:19):
That's good, though, isn't it. It's good.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
I think you've got to do that sometimes. The fans
love hearing about that. The players sometimes need that, they
need the wake up call because it's quite old fashioned.
You know, it's the Alex Ferguson thing. But it's still relevant,
you know, it's still still needed. And as you pinpointed
that sequence, there were five or six moments there weren't.
(35:42):
There are five or six little lapses that ended up
with the goal.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
Well, it clearly worked because it was almost the direct
opposite to last week where Wellington came out, you know,
after the break and consider what three and seven minutes
or whatever it was. They didn't score three, but they
scored two pretty quickly. The penalty which was I'm not
quite sure how the referee hasn't seen that in real time.
That's one of the clearest handballs I think I've ever seen.
(36:08):
Maybe he was unsided, I don't know, but they got
the decision right at the ends. Interesting that man Draca
James took that penalty. Normally in football teams, if a
guy has scored a penalty, the next time a penalty
is awarded for his team, he takes it. He's on pens.
He scored the last one Ramy Nazerene scored against Adelaide
back in round six, but Man Draca James said afterwards
(36:28):
that because James was on the pitch during that time,
that James is the penalty taker. But at one Nill
ahead of Adelaide.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
He wanted to give.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Ramy Nazerene a bit of a confidence boost, a first
goal for the club. He's a striker, Nazerene, so he
gave that spot. Keck up yesterday with the score at
one all, he thought this was a little bit more important.
I'm going to take responsibility, interesting little dynamic that I thought.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
Really interesting and really really unselfish, and consider it from James.
But he'll be the penalty taker. I mean, I really
like the look of that penalty. That's that's a penalty.
That's a no start, a step, none of that crap.
Just pick your spot, hit it well, hit it hard,
hit it in the corner. I mean, that's how you
(37:15):
take a penalty.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Yeah, absolutely, no doubt about it. And shortly after that,
back on the other end and Corbyn Piper plays one
across the box and Carlo Armiento excellent again, scored and
made it three to one. From there, the Phoenix managed
the game pretty well. I mean, the Mariners are pretty limited.
I have to say. They didn't really, as I said before,
(37:36):
present a huge threat to the goal of Amon McCarran.
And look, I think the you know, the result was
the right one. I think the Phoenix managed it out
pretty well. You wrote a piece ahead of this game,
and I'm going to read from this as well, talking
about a crucial six game stretch for Giancloataliano.
Speaker 4 (37:54):
And you're right.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
After Sunday so match against Central Coast which looms as
I must win. Well, they've ticked that box.
Speaker 4 (38:00):
You're right.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
They have one of the toughest stretches of their season,
with the way matches against the Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Raw,
Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets, along with another visit from
Adelaide United is chief. He still under pressure. This win
alleviates the pressure, of course it does, but with a
stretch like that coming up, he's still got to keep
on collecting points, doesn't he or his team does.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Yeah, I mean he's got to show that they've got
they've got more more to give and their progressing, because
that was the issue. It's not just about the points,
it's about where they were going, and no one could
really see where they were going. It just looked like
they were going. They were going downwards. There'll be underdogs
for all four of those away games, I would think,
(38:44):
and even Adelaide it was a really good win against
Adelaide a few weeks ago, but Adelaide was strangely off
color when they came to Wellington or what happened there, So.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
They'll be better as well.
Speaker 3 (38:55):
So that that's a really tough fixture list, but I
guess it's because they had a comparatively more straightforward run
of games up till they haven't. There a lot of
home games and a lot of games against teams in
the bottom half of the table.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
And they'll take a lift from yesterday, won't they. It
was obvious, wasn't it. I Mean, it's just it's absolutely
stating the obvious. But a win does massive things, not
just to a team, but to the crowd, those on
the bench, everybody associated with a football club. And I
think scoring first does that too, doesn't it. You know,
just getting a lead and then getting a win and everything.
(39:34):
You know, you wake up here in Wellington this morning
and the sun's just a little bit brighter. I don't know,
it's just the tonic for everything is just winning football
matches really well.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
You mentioned in training, you know this week they've all
got to spring in their step and the laughing and
the joking and the banter and that happens in any
week because that's what sports people do. They move on,
they're professional. But there's no doubt that when you win,
it does change everything, changes everything for everyone involved with
the club, everyone who follows the club. And that's why
(40:06):
the run of games this season and the way they've
just conceded early goals, crazy goals often conceded first in
a game, has made it so hard for themselves. Now
they've got a little they've got little, a little something
to build on.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Yeah, I've got to keep it going. They do.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Marin's had the ball in the net early yesterday, didn't
They talked off a handball in the area. But yeah,
you're right. It just makes make such a difference. And
yet they'll be they'll be, They'll be swaggering into work,
not getting ahead of themselves. The same with the women's site.
Imagine walking into training the day after a seven nil win.
You'd be high fives and all sorts going on, wouldn't there.
(40:45):
But yeah, the Phoenix, you're right. Both teams actually have
to continue in the fashion that Aukland FC have done,
really just consistently stacked wins on top of wins on
top of wins and you know that is that is
championship stuff. Ben Wayne won't be coming back to Wellington
or to the A League Burge he was. It was
a name on my laundry list that I that I
(41:06):
read out a few weeks ago on the pod. As
you understand, it will probably stay at Port Val. He
starting to get games there.
Speaker 4 (41:11):
Yeah, probably will.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
And there was interest in him around that time you
read out your your wish list.
Speaker 4 (41:17):
I know there was.
Speaker 3 (41:18):
I know there was interest and I know he was
considering it. He was thinking, well, actually I'm not playing,
maybe I should go back because that World Cup is looming,
et cetera, et cetera. But he started to play at
Port Vale. He's got a goal or two and that's
where he wants to be. So it won't happen even
though there was there was interest.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
All right. So there is still the chants for Wellington
to make some moves. They've got Herdecki a Shiga of
course out for the season, so they could if they
wanted to bring somebody in in January and import and
obviously look at other other players as well. Interesting I
mentioned last week on the pot ISA Prince has moved
to Auckland f C has been confirmed initially for the
(41:58):
Oceania Pro League, but but Isopryns. I'm almost certain we'll
integrate into the A League squad as well. We might
even see him this season, who knows, but he's another
one to look out for. The table is just so
tight Perch. After nine rounds, Melbourne City and MacArthur play
game tomorrow night, so that'll complete a complete set of
nine matches, each one point from fourth to ninth, six
(42:20):
teams that is within a point of each other, and
nine teams separated by just four points from fourth down
to last. I mean, Auckland FC and Sydney FC have
cleared out a little bit, but it feels like everybody else,
the other ten teams in the league. On their day,
anyone can beat anyone. This feels like one of the
tightest A League seasons we've ever seen. And it's in
(42:43):
ten and to four does and go. But any of
those ten could pretty much end up in the top six.
With Auckland FC and Sydney FC.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
This is the perfect situation. This is why people enjoy
the A League so much because it's generally quite you know,
there's not these massive gaps or massive cohorts of teams top,
middle and bottom. So long mate continue, you know it
will eventually sort itself out. But the uncertainty is what
(43:15):
we love, isn't it. The uncertainty where you don't really
know what's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
Yeah, and that's demonstrated perfectly over the weekend. Five of
the six games and the A League mens this weekend,
or in five of them, the team lower on the
table beat the team higher on the table. The only
exception was Auckland FC beating the Wanderers. So in all
of the other five games, yes it's a tight table,
but the team who started the game lower beat the
team who started the game higher, So it just goes
(43:40):
to show how tight it is. Sir Wellington off to
Amy Park on Monday night to take on Melbourne victory.
They haven't won there since twenty seventeen. That seems like
an awfully long time ago to me, eight years since
they've been to that patrograss and won a game. But
there's no time like the present, as they say. Quick
check on a couple of keys overseas. You mentioned Ben Wayne.
(44:03):
Of course his Port Vale came up against Matt Garbet's
Peterborough United, So KWV Kewe. In League One. Matt Garbet's
Peterborough got the one nil win, but both of the
two players started. Ryan Thomas scored on his birthday for Peckswaller,
his first goal for anybody since twenty twenty one. I
know he's been out with injury, but that's an incredibly
long time since he last scored. And Tyler bind and
(44:25):
I was so delighted to see this burge. He was
out of the Sheffield United squad for ages. He didn't
play between the thirtieth of August and the sixth of December.
That's over three months without making the Sheffield United first team.
He's come back and he's starting to impress. Got a
goal and man of the match in a three nil
win over Birmingham in the Championship. We've known the quality
(44:47):
of Tyler Binden for a while, but I don't want to
be sitting on the bench, you know, six months out
from a World Cup.
Speaker 3 (44:55):
And to go to a you know, he went to Okay,
it's a championship club, but it's a big chair chip
club with a lot of a lot of pressure. And
then what did they have to start the season? A
run of I think it was five defeats or by
a single goal, and the pressure just and he was
playing in those games, the pressure just ramped up. And
then new coach and he's not playing. So great resilience
(45:18):
from a guy who's still He's still a kid, isn't he.
We forget how young he still is because he's head
all this time, reading and all the things he's done
already in his career.
Speaker 2 (45:27):
Yeah, but the FAUCT just reading a few fan comments
after that game and they're very happy with Tyler Bind
and now that he's back in the team, I think
when he wasn't playing, a lot of people just forgot
about him.
Speaker 4 (45:38):
Really.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
He might have even gone back to Forest if Sheffield
United didn't want to play him and look for another
loan move somewhere because you've got to be playing. But
by the sounds of things, now he's back in A
goal will boost his confidence. He's getting a lot of
good raps from the fans. So yeah, well on to
Tylerbind and it's good to see him back in the
team and displaying the form we always knew that he had,
(46:00):
all right, but I don't it's one of those times
of the year. Well, that time of the year and
we don't actually know what day is, which day is
which I could say Saturday, I wouldn't be able to
see what date that was, but I can tell you
that Aukland FC on Saturday night play Sydney FC away,
two nights later Wellington Phoenix are away at Melbourne Victory,
and the following evening the Wellington Phoenix Women take on
(46:21):
Western Sydney. That is the thirtieth of December. So well,
it just remains for me to wish you and your
family are very merry Christmas and look forward to a
big twenty twenty six for football Fever and for the
game of football in general.
Speaker 3 (46:37):
Thanks Pony, and same to you. I'm sure there'll be
a lot going on in the Pine Household which will
be a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (46:47):
As always, absolutely, we'll catch you in twenty twenty six, folks,
Little Fever
Speaker 3 (47:01):
M
Football Fever, the podcast keeping you up to date with
the beautiful game with the voice of football Jason Paine
and Insid heralds Michael Burgess, powered by News Talks hebby.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome and a very merry Christmas to you. The Fest
of season is, I guess you'd say, upon us, and
a pretty festive weekend and a successful weekend for the
three New Zealand sides involved in the A League's competitions.
I'm Jason Pine, Michael Burgess is here. Win win, win,
three WS three up, three down. Bird's not bad for
(00:33):
the three teams and the A leagues across the weekend
from New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Triple treaty was perfect. Wasn't it a great way to
start the fest of season? And I don't imagine it's
happened all that often since Auckland came into the league
that we've had all three teams went on the same weekend,
so pretty special.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Absolutely. I don't know that the Wellington Phoenix men and
women have won very often on the same weekend. I'll
get my statisticians onto it, but you're right, please do
It was a very very rare thing, but a very
pleasing thing as far as football on this side of
the Tasman is concerned. We might jump straight to Saturday
afternoon where we had a record breaking game at Pottydoor
(01:10):
Park the Wellington Phoenix Women's seven Sydney FC nil at
Pottydoor Park, most goals scored in a game ever by
the Phoenix women, biggest winning margin in Phoenix club history
by the men's or the women's team, and Sydney FC's
biggest ever A League women's defeat. BF Priestman said during
the week that someone's going to get a hiding from us.
(01:31):
Surely she couldn't have expected that it would be that
emphatic though, seven nil.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
You hear coaches say that quite a bit, that we're
do a big game, and often you think, oh, they're
just saying it to sort of to sort of make
things sound good or to give everyone confidence. But sometimes
they're saying it because they can see it coming, they
can see something in the inside and you know they
had been playing well. But that was that was what
you dream about, wasn't it. That's what you dream about
when you set up this woman's team, and especially with
(01:59):
the investment this season, to win like that, but to
win like that against the big team like Sydney there,
one of the biggest clubs in Australia.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, incredible really, and for so many reasons. It was
an important game, the fact that that had those two
games on the road and hadn't got a goal or
a point in either of them. I also heard birds
that before the weekend, off the back of last weekend's
results for the men's and the women's teams, that Rob
Morrison was absolutely apoplectic when he spoke with the club's
(02:33):
football department. They've invested a lot of money in the
women's team, as we know, the men you know, losing
at home to the bottom team. Rob Morrison was most displeased,
I understand, so he would have had a brighter smile,
I'm sure after the weekend. Certainly, Bev said to me
on the radio yesterday, I put a smile on the
chairman's face.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
We certainly did.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
It just looked good from the start though getting an
early goal I think is always a thing to do,
isn't it. It sounds so obvious, but having not scored in
the previous two for Mania Elliott to score in the
third minute, it kind of takes that pressure off and
and just you know, allows you to breathe a bit
easier from the start.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
It's the here we go moment, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
They had been unlucky, like I don't want to be
sound like a hindsight hero like Mike Costing likes to
talk about. But the previous the previous two matches, we've
been saying, Piney, they had played well, you know, they
had played well. They were desperate and lucky against Perth
to lose that match, and they had way more opportunities
against Melbourne City. So they had been playing well, but
(03:35):
it just hadn't hadn't happened for them, and there must
have been doubts. So to start so well and to
go on with it in the first half must have
been such a lift and they're thinking, Okay, this is
what this is what's supposed to happen, this is what
we've been doing in training and it's finally coming off.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Maybe or that that.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Shooting and finishing practice you suggested as well was definitely
helpful because it was spot.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
On, wasn't it. It took the goals.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yeah. The other thing you said last week, which which
has sort of resonated with me and I've been thinking about,
is that you said that you thought this would be
a team that was better in the second half of
the season than they have been in the first half,
or will be in the first half. Look, here we
are about six or seven games in, and I think
that's that's starting to look, you know, like a very
accurate prediction. Maybe it just does just take a bit
(04:21):
of time for a new coach, a new bunch of players,
a few injuries, just you know, lots of factors.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
You know.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
It wasn't like they've been playing poorly either, they just
hadn't been getting the results. I don't think that their
performance has perhaps deserved. Look this, this feels like a
watershed moment. Will we look back at the end of
the season and say, look, that was it the seven
mill against Sydney FC. Is where this season actually began?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Possibly? Yeah, Like it's the old turning point, isn't it.
They had to win. But to win like that and
to have the clean sheet, I mean, that's a pretty
good foundation for what's coming.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
And they've they've got good players, They've got a good squad.
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
I'd started to hear over the last week a bit
of criticism of Samba and saying that, oh, it's great,
she's got all the support and you know, it's amazing
that the Nepalese that had come out everywhere they play.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
But she's got to start producing.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
But my argument was, well, she has actually looked quite good,
so someone like her, what a boost. And also think
of the young players in that team ay that like,
imagine how they'll be feeling.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, incredible. It must just be such a boost to
have a result like that and to know, okay, we
are actually a team that can score goals. Samba's first
two goals for the club. Grace Charlie got a couple
as well, the early one from a Nia Aliat those
two late own goals. Incidentally, the third goal was Wellington
Phoenix's one hundredth A League women's goal. But what I
(05:51):
really liked Birde was they didn't sit back at three
nil or four nil or five nil even you know,
they kept going, but also retain that defensive base because
when you're five nil up, it's easy to let one
in because it doesn't matter, right, five nil, five to one,
you still get the three points. But it seemed as
though they were still very very keen on that clean
sheet even though the points were well and truly secure
(06:14):
by that stage.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Yeah, it's a good point, mate, Like the hunger was there,
wasn't it. You see other games real ends up, you
know six two or six three even, you know, because
everything gets a bit loose and you just start going
for things and forget about defending. But it wasn't the case.
You know, they stayed on their assignments but still wanted more.
So very positive signs. I mean, they know they've dropped points,
(06:38):
that's the thing. Though. They know they've dropped points. We
talked about it last week. There should be another four
or five points up the table. But now the chance
comes to make those points up in the coming weeks.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
And it actually doesn't matter too much because the table
is so tight. Yes, of course, they would have loved
to have had those points, and they'd be probably well,
they would be in a better position than they are.
But as this win has taken them to eight points,
they're in eighth position. But they're you know, there are
only two points behind the third placed Central Coast Mariners,
(07:10):
and they've got a game in hand because of the
uneven nature of the competition where there's a bye, so
you know they're they're there or thereabouts. Can we talk
about the away form because they go away next to
second bottom Western Sydney on Tuesday night. Huge chants this
to claim a first away win of the season and
(07:30):
jump into the top six. But I don't know what
you think whether the whether the the away day blues
of previous teams can be you know, automatically assigned to
this team because they have played well, haven't they away
from home against Melbourne City against Perth could have easily
got something out of both of those games. So maybe
the away day blues are something from seasons past. I
(07:53):
don't know what you think.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I think so yeah, I think it's unfair to tarnish
them with that the club has struggled away. We all
know that the clubs women's teams struggled away, but this
team feels different. It felt different just in those two performances,
like to do what they did against City restrict their
chances have so many of their own chances, Perth played
them off the park. This is it's definitely a new
(08:17):
beginning and let's hope that starts to show through away
from home. They're much more professional, They've got much more
resources behind them, so you think that would pay off
and it has to, doesn't it, because if they're going
to be contenders, they can't just rely on their home form.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
No, exactly right, they do have to win their away
games or certainly get points away from home, and like
I say, it feels as though away at second bottom
Western Sydney on Tuesday night is a massive chance to
capitalize on the momentum that they would have gained from
the winover over Sydney FC. Just a word on Grace
jarla second goal as well her tenth for the club.
She is now the equal top scorer in the club's
(08:55):
women's history with ten, alongside Maddy Ana Spekma. So you'd
have to think that she will at some stage take
that mental interesting and we've talked a bit about Grace
Jarlay and where her best position is just sitting a
bit deeper with you know, c J. Bott, I guess
the deepest of the midfielder. Is Grace still able to
sort of you know, play a bit further forward but
make her impact in central positions. Maybe that is the
(09:17):
place for her. Maybe we've finally landed on Grace Charlie's
best position, Birch.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
It's taking a while and we've discussed this, you know,
whenever we were catching up around the Ferns and Woman's
World Cup and everything. I just I think you felt
the same. Just always felt she was wasted out wide.
So as long as she's central, whether it's further forward
or striker or a bit deeper, but as long as
she's central, I think she can make an impact. And
(09:44):
by the way, I love that story about Rob because
he's such a busy guy. You know, he doesn't get
involved that much. But when he's coming down and banging
his fists on the table, you know that, you know
that something's happened. I don't know something to change. You know,
he's a pretty how would you describe him. He's a
pretty understanding and patient guy. You know, he's not one
(10:08):
of those owners that flies off the handle that you
see in Europe. But they're obviously there had come a time.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, I'm not sure i'd want to be on the
end of a displeased Rob Morrison. But look it's obviously
worked because both teams pulled their socks up and got
the results they were after. So the Wellington Phoenix Woman,
as I say, next away against the Western Sydney Wanderers
on the thirtieth of December.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
The Football Fever Podcast with Jason Vine and Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Let's jump back to Friday night, Western Sydney Wanderer's nil
Auckland f C two at Combank a third straight win
for Auckland f C. They reclaimed top spot for the
first time since round four. This felt like a quintessential
game of two halves to me, birds not particularly inspiring
in the first half, a reset at halftime. I'm second
(11:00):
half very good, a functional Auckland FC two nil win
away from home.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
Good performance, really.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Good performance and really good result. I mean you're right
about the first half. But Western Sydney were playing well.
They looked like the team that they can be and
that you were hoping them to be when we did
our pre season predictions. I mean, they're a good side.
They were playing well and Auckland just were very sloppy.
They couldn't keep the ball. They were killing themselves with
(11:29):
some bad passing and it looked like the Wondrous press
is really good, didn't it. So they were pressing, putting pressure.
Auckland couldn't put their own pressure on but as we've seen,
it gets repetitive. But they found a way to stay
in the contest rather than be too kneel down. You know,
they defended pretty well and then it was still game
(11:50):
on at halftime.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Yeah, Boja cry hitting the post in the first half
would have been the closest that Western Sydney came to
opening the scoring and year they just haven't haven't found
what they're after in the first eight or nine games
of the season. They've got the talent, there's absolutely no doubt,
they've got the roster to be a lot better off
than they are. And the tables so tight and I'm
sure they will climb into the upper echelons, you know,
(12:12):
perhaps in the early part of the new year. But
I just the all Auckland FC again just controlled the
game so well in the second half. They scored after
fifty seven minutes. Now on that goal that's been given
to Jesse Randall, that goal officially by the A League.
How has Jesse Randall been credited with that goal? If
I'm Sam Cosgrove, I'm writing a very very stern letter
(12:36):
and I'm sure he won't because he's not that kind
of guy to the questionable goals panel if such a
thing exists, and asking them how on earth it's been
credited to Jesse Randall.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
I mean Jesse was lying on the ground. He could
have been asleep.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
It could have been asleep, and it just sort of
hits his ankle, Like in what universe does that become
his goal? I just this kind of thing really bugs
me because it must really bug the players even though
they never say it. And I'd just love to know
who makes this decision. Have they ever played football? Do
they understand, you know, what what what a vital deflection
(13:14):
is and what's not. I just i'd like to see
I don't know, maybe a sort of media briefing. They
can do it occasionally, like the NRL do where they
came out on Monday and they explain the different things,
because it's just nuts.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
We'll put it this way. If that's a defender on
the ground and Sam Cosgrove takes the shot and it
flicks up off the ankle of the defender and into
the net, a shot that's already on target. You've seen
it from behind. He's shot, it's on target. It's obviously
taking the deflection and gone up into the into the
upper part of the goal. But if it's a if
(13:48):
it's an opposition player, is that an own goal? Is
that called an own goal?
Speaker 4 (13:53):
Not normally?
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Not normally, like I think we all we're all overthinking
things in this sage and we sent to find things
that aren't there. I mean, even the way they gave
Cosgrove the goal in Wellington. Maybe he'd touched it just
before the line. I don't know, I haven't seen the footage.
That kind of makes sense, but it's still blood annoying.
But this one was just just nuts.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Imagine if you had money on Sam Cosgrove as the
first goal scorer, and I'm sure people would have, you know,
how does that get explained? I mean, I know that's
not the main thing here, but anyway, we're probably dwelling
on it a bit much. And as you say, maybe
justice for Jesse Randall after Costrove kind of did steal
that goal off him in Wellington. If it had been
given to Cosgrove, he'd be top of the Golden Boot
now with five. As it stands, he's on four with
(14:36):
about five or six other players. But yeah, look, I
think the most important thing is that the ball went
in and Auckland had their one nill lead, and from
there it felt very much like the previous weekend that
they were in control of the game, weren't going to
lose it just a matter of whether they score another goal,
which they did. Lockey Brook play broken up by the
excellent Louis via Strata. In midfield, Brook cuts inside scores
(14:58):
against his former club. Gee. I like the way he's
playing at the moment Burge. I know it's early, but
he is starting to creep into Johnny Warren Metal consideration.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Lachland Brook.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
I just love the way that he has adjusted the
life at Auckland FC in a couple of different positions
and impacts every game of football that he plays.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
He does.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Yeah, he's he came back with something to prove, didn't
he because the MLS hadn't really worked. But everyone knew
he's a good player. That's what makes it such a
such a smart signing. And it's obvious he has adjusted
so well to Croaker's system, which probably isn't easy for
someone like him because he's an attacking player who wants
(15:41):
to He's more focused on stuff in the final third,
adjusted well, gets on well with the group and as
you say, I mean it's quite it's quite unusual to
be able to play two positions so well, isn't it
the way he has?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (15:57):
And he may have to as well revert to where
he was because we had really good bench impacted from Kazuma,
Mai and Felipe Guy Goss who came on ten minutes
after the break. Hiroki Sarki joined them in the sixty
third minute. Rogerson, Brummer, Elliott are all replaced. How will
Steve Corriker manage this burge? Because much as all the
(16:19):
players will say, we want what's best for the team,
and whatever's best for the team, those players all want
to play. They all want to play, and they can't
all play. You can't play Cosgrove, Randall, Brook, Rogerson and Mai.
Let alone start thinking about Francois and Gillian. You can't
really play both Sarki and Elliott. You can't really play Verstrata,
(16:41):
Brummer and guy Goss. How is he going to do this?
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I think it's one of his biggest challenges because one
of the best things about auckland see last year was
that Okay used He used his player as well, and
he gave them more time when he could. But people
accepted their roles on or off the you know, on
the field, or on the bench really kicking stones. The
culture was good and you don't always see that, you know,
So his challenge in the second season will be can
(17:06):
he keep everyone happy or is there going to start
to be a bit of dissatisfaction because, as you say,
all those players would expect and be entitled to think
they're good enough to start My will be a will
be an ongoing one, and that they're not going to
risk anything because he's so important. So he might continue
to be an impact player with his knee. But the
(17:28):
other two, I mean, Felipe was a regular last season,
wasn't he was? He was one of the first pick.
Broom has been going well, but I don't know, does
it Does it become a thing where you replace the
midfielder after sixty five seventy minutes for the extra energy?
Speaker 4 (17:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I personally don't like it, but maybe it's the way
the game. The game's going, especially the A League because
it's so fast, so transitional.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
What about Sarkai? He comes back, doesn't he when he's fit.
Elliott's been good, very very good, good player. But if Hiroarki,
Sarki can play ninety minutes or certainly if he can
start a game. He starts the game, doesn't he's club captain, he.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Does, he does, He can't leave him out.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
And Callum was really good on that last week in
the media session, he said, you know, look, Hierroki's a
club cap, then he's a legend.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
I still think I'm good enough to.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Play, and i still want to play, but I'm also
realistic with the situation. So I love that attitude. I mean,
what Couraker can do is bring Callen on sometimes with
tend to go if the game looks and also he's
an option to bring on further forward as well, so
there are ways to skin it. But yeah, Hiroki, he's
got to be there because he brings so many other layers,
(18:37):
doesn't he.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Yeah, it was just great to see him out there.
And he made one run down the right hand side
which almost suggested right on back my hamstrings fixed. You know.
He set off down the right and you don't often
really see it from haruky sark guy. He doesn't get
forward as much as Devrees on the other side, but
he just sort of it was almost like he was
making a point. He carried on with the ball for
(18:58):
about forty fifty meters all the way up to the
attacking half, and so maybe he was saying to Steve Corrick,
all right, I'm I'm ready, I'm And it would not
be a surprise at all if he starts against Sydney
FC on Saturday, massive game which will get to in
a moment. But just even talking about the selection problems,
wouldn't some other coaches love the problems that Steve Gorrick has.
Wouldn't chief he love love some issues like this? So
(19:20):
do I play? Do I play Guy Goss or Brummer?
Do I play Elliott or Sarkai? Do I play my
or Brook or Rogerson or Randall? It's I mean, these
are wonderful problems to haven't they?
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Well? Is this the best bench in the league?
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Has to be, has to be, has to be?
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Yeah? I think so? Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
No, I mean you look at the well when you
can have when you can have three imports on the bench,
and often if you you know, we often talk about
imports and think, okay, well that they need to be
starting players, and when you can have three of them
on the bench because of being kept out. You know, yes,
there's been injuries and I know that, and players coming back,
but when they can they can add impact off the bench.
(19:58):
I mean imagine looking over and seeing my and Guy
Goss and Sarki coming on for the last thirty minutes.
You know, if you've held the Auckland FC to to
a relatively close scoreline, look over and you see that
is your impact. I mean that's got to be disheartening
it itself, doesn't it.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
It's some mer till or is it?
Speaker 3 (20:14):
To look up and not see now they're coming on
and I'm feeling tired already. Yeah, it's a great situation
they've got themselves in.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
You've got a piece in the Herald this morning regarding
Auckland f C's travels and I just want to read
a bit from it which talks about the facts of
the matter. The club as yet to taste defeat you
right in New South Wales, Queensland or South Australia have
only lost two of sixteen A League matches outside New Zealand.
The first was in Perth in January. The second came
against Western United and a dead rubber in May, a
(20:43):
week after they'd wrapped up the Premier's plate, with the
squad probably still in celebratory mode. Two losses in sixteen
away matches. That is no one would have a record
like that. Why have they been so good on the road.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Yeah, I think it's remarkable, especially you know for a
trans Tasman team. I mean there's probably a few elements.
They've got the recipe right, they have tweaked things over
time and they now fly two days before, which is
a luxury. What would that cost them an extra ten
grand to stay an extra night, I'd say something like that.
So that's a luxury. That's what resources can do for you.
(21:23):
But more than that, it's definitely a mindset thing. You
know that they had some tricky games away in the
early part in their first season and they got through them,
you know, and I think it's just just built from there.
Obviously as well, they're defensively very solid. But man, it's
not easy to travel and get results, really isn't. And
(21:45):
the fact I've done it, I don't know, I just
find it. I just find extraordinary. Really, it is extraordinary.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
And it's not an away game as a side based
in New South Wales where Sydney FC go away to
Central Coast, Marras is now up the road, Newcastle two
hours up the road. Even if flying into State is
an hour unless you're going across to Western Australia. This
is major international travel every time they go. And look
Wellington Phoenix, both the men's and the women's sides, as
(22:16):
we've mentioned, have had real trouble, you know, putting together
any sort of consistency on the road, but to only
lose twice in sixteen games, one of which, as you say,
was effectively a dead rubber after they won the Premier's plate.
So one proper away loss and that was the Perth
Glory who were bottom. I think at the time it
(22:37):
was an absolute aberration. So look, it probably needs to
be studied and other teams. I mean, certainly Wellington would
love to have that sort of a way day form.
They'd go again, don't they. So if they traveled two
days before, does that mean awk see a traveling on
Christmas Day to get to Sydney for the game on Saturday?
Speaker 4 (22:54):
They are?
Speaker 3 (22:55):
They are, So that's another little challenge. They'll travel in
the afternoon, as I remember that, I think they've got
a three pm flight something like that, so you don't
got to be the airport one o'clock, so you have
your family time in the morning and then boom, you're
off to the airport on the plane.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Not ideal, but they are a close knit group as well.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
They do enjoy spending time together and I guess they
see these trips as well as a chance for team
bonding and stuff. But it's certainly not your not your
ideal Christmas day.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
No. But then, having said that, and you made this
point last week, there aren't a lot of players in
the team who have families. You know, a lot of
them have partners, but they're you know Hiracki, Sarka's got kids.
A couple of others may as well, but most of
them I think you know a young girl on that
so they haven't started their families yet. So so you know,
it's not quite as bad, isn't it saying goodbye to
(23:47):
your wife or your girlfriend. If it's just them, they
can see their family. You know, that might be quite nice. Actually,
you go and see your family. I'll go to Australia
for a game of football. I'm not a castle aspersions
on any of the partner's families, of course, with dangerous
or very dangerous, very just but look, it's obviously worked
for them and this is a massive game away at
Sydney FC Saturday Night one v Two, first of three
(24:08):
games between the two this season. It feels like these
are the top two teams, not just on the table
but in the A League. While other teams are taking
points off one another and sort of scrapping and losing
the odd game here and there. It feels like these
are the top two. Having said that, Newcastle they have
beaten Sydney FC. That was an impressive win. Have we
been a bit harsh or Newcastle They've beaten Sydney FC.
(24:29):
They've come to New Zealand and beaten both Auckland FC
and the Wellington Phoenix. They're obviously a pretty good side.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
I just thought maybe we look back we were because
you know, they were bottom when they beat Auckland, then
they were bottom when they beat the Phoenix. But maybe
they're definitely not the worst team in the league, and
they've got all these young players. But to beat Sydney
they look like they did. That's pretty impressive because I
like what I've seen from Sydney and I've got no
doubt that ufuk Tale will be really up for this.
(24:57):
He would love to beat, not just especially Steve Gyker's
former clubmate but to beat Auckland. So this this will
be absolute beauty.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Well, and Steve Coracker still gets a bit misty eyed
when he talks about Sydney FC. You know, I noticed
he was asked to, you know, and I don't mind
it from him. I have to say, I've come to
really enjoy Steve Coricker's media, you know, conferences. I just
think he's he's so honest, like because it would be
easy to say, no, Sydney, that's my past team. I've
(25:27):
got no you know, I don't. I don't think about
them anymore. He still gets He still gets a bit
nostalgic and fair enough to he was ever ages. But
I like that about him. I just like it, like
that he sits there after a game and just tells
the truth, you know, and it seems so obvious, but
he you know, I'm really liking just the authenticity that
he brings. He'll you know, it's like art, isn't it
(25:49):
as well? So it's not it's be nice and you know,
sort of condensed in there, but of a hostile atmosphere.
Could be a cracking game, Birch.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
It could be beauty.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
I really think it could be one of the best
games of the season so far, and I love your
point about Croaker. Could also think the first game against Sydney,
which was what round two last year, wasn't that Yeah,
that was a big moment. But since then, actually I
remember him saying last season every game has still felt
a bit weird because he was he was part of
(26:17):
the furniture.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
He's a Sydney icon.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
I mean, what was he at the club for sort
of almost twenty years, So it's still going to be strange.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
But he is. He does manage to.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Say what he thinks in press conferences. He's not maybe
as careful as other coaches, and authentic is a good word.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
And also there's no doubt once the game starts, which
you know which side he's on. He might be in
his old stamping ground, his spiritual home, but there's no
doubt at all that he is an Auckland FC coach
through and through when the game starts. So you're looking
forward to that one Saturday night, seven o'clock at Leichhardt
as Auckland FC go back on the road to take
on Sydney FC.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Good balls either with Jason paid and.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
So let's go to Sunday afternoon in the Sunshine again
at Sky Stadium in Wellington. Wellington Phoenix three the Central
Coast Mariners. One great weekend for the Phoenix seven nil
on Saturday, three to one on Sunday, much needed win
for the Phoenix men. They were last going into the
game because Melbourne Victory had won the night before, but
they jumped from last to seventh and just one point
(27:21):
behind the team that currently sits in fourth place.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
So it's so tight.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
But just how big a win in the overall scheme
of things, the landscape of the points table going into
the game, and just for the confidence of the team
and its fans was this.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
It was massive. It was massive.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
We talked about it at length last week about the situation,
and they couldn't afford anything less, especially against the Mariners
who have been struggling so much themselves, especially when they've
got the schedule they've got coming up away from home.
But mainly just to show that they still believed in themselves,
(27:59):
still believe than the coach, and to offer everyone else,
everyone else some belief because it had been dwindling. So really,
really really big result. It's only one game, but it
feels a bit more important than that.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Yeah, I agree, as far as as a boost at
the right time is concerned, and it came with a
bit of adversity as well. Josh olaway Amy, who's been excellent,
you know, one of the best goalkeepers in the league
in the first couple of months of the season, injured
in just the eleventh minute making a save. Actually he
came off with what looked to be an ankle injury.
He was in a moon boot, so I haven't heard
(28:36):
any update yet as to how long he might be
out for. Almost certainly going to miss the next game.
But whether it's just a bad twist or a bad spray,
or whether there's something worse than that, I guess we'll
find out. But what it did do was open the
door for an A League men's debut for eighteen year
old goalkeeper Amon McCarran. He had played against Rexham mid
year and in the Australia Cup, but a big, big
(28:59):
occasion for I think reserve goalkeepers always know they might play,
but most of the time they don't. What would it
be ninety five percent of the time, probably even more
than that. You sit on the bench. You know, you
warm the keeper up before the game. You sit on
the bench, but you never get the call eleven minutes
in this eighteen year old kids out there are a
pretty crucial game.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
It it must be. It must be so hard because
as you say, you're sitting on the bench, you think
of other things. You know you're not you're not going
to play. You're a bit relaxed, and suddenly boom, it's
on and you're out there. And for a young guy
rather than the you know, for a guy, it feels
like he's gone from number three to number two, which
(29:41):
is kind of unusual, isn't it. Its number three keeper
stays as number three keeper.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
I think it's a really interesting point because if I
remember last year, about midway through the season, Janklotaliano decided
to make a change in goal, wasn't happy with what
Josh Olowaymey was giving him, and I made the decision
to bring lbie Kelly Healed INSS number one, so basically
swapped as one and two a round and LB Kelly
Heild played, i think from memories, seven or eight games
(30:10):
before injuring his shoulder in training and then being ruled
out for their is to the season oll Away and
he came back in and that was that. But if
lb Kelly healed was number one last season. He's back
from that injuries, played half a dozen National League games.
He sat on the bench I think a couple of
weeks ago, but obviously didn't get on. Has he gone
(30:30):
from number one to number three? What's happened there? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (30:36):
I mean I don't know.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
I mean goalkeeping a mystery to me anyway, and it
seems that the only people who understand are the goalkeeping coaches.
You know, they have their own little club and they
trained together and they talk about it. But it's unusual.
I can't remember that happening at too many clubs. I
thought Albie did quite well last season, although I always
felt Josh should be the number one, given as whose
(31:00):
background and his pedigree.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
So yeah, it's unusual.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
I think the reason for the change, or one of
the reasons for the change, was that Chief you liked
Albi Kelly Held's ability to play with the ball at
his feet, and that's always been a little bit of
a question mark over Josh. He's a terrific shot stopper
and has actually improved with his feet, but still gives
you the odd nervous moment. But I think he's the
better shot stopping goalkeeper, and I agree he should be
(31:27):
number one and his performances a season. Even if Albert
Kelly held was available, I think Josh would have had
the gloves. But it just seems odd to me. But
we don't know what happens, you know, in training and stuff, chief,
he said after the game yesterday. It's a contestable position
that number two spot. Amon mccawran is currently ahead of
Albi Kelly healed and almost certainly will start against Victory.
(31:49):
I have to say, though, Burge, if I'm the Central
Coast Mariners, I'm peppering Amon mccawran's goal. They hardly tested
him yesterday. I know for a fact Melbournevie will be
absolutely peppering Amon mccarran's goal on the weekend.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
It was a bit strange, wasn't it to be to
not see a few more shots and just not flinging
in some more crosses, just to hey, there's a kid
and goal. He's just come on, let's see what he's
made of. That's the standard thing in any level of football,
isn't it. Let's test the new keeper, Let's give him
a bit of grief, Let's do a bit of sledging,
(32:25):
all that kind of stuff, and it didn't really happen,
which was a surprise.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
And when it did, they scored. They had the shot
from outside the area. He's gone across to his left,
I'm sure, and any goalkeeping review and I'm not a keeper,
neither of you, and like you, it's a bit of
a mystery to me sometimes, but he should do better
with that, shouldn't he. I know's I don't want to
be too hard on an eighteen year old on debut
who's come off the bench unexpectedly, but as he goes across,
(32:54):
it seems to me as though you either hold that
or you push it wide. The fact that he's sort
of patted it back into a position where Sabaitnor was
able to come in and tuck it away, that's a
goalkeeping error for me. And look again, it's his debut,
and beyond that, I think he was pretty solid. But
it's still I think has to come under under scrutiny,
(33:15):
and it makes it so strange to me why the
Mariners didn't didn't do that more, just fire shot him
from anywhere. Maybe you know, I'd have to have a look,
but maybe McCarran was protected a lot better by his
defense than I initially thought. But look, good luck to
the kid. You know, he'll have a he'll have an
absolute baptism of fire from it in a starting debut
(33:38):
at Amy Parking against Melbourn Victory on the weekend. And look,
I guess we'll find out a lot more about him
then we will.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
And the Phoenix have got a pretty good record of
bringing through young keepers, you know, they have done it
plenty of times in the past, so I'm looking forward
to seeing more of him. And but you are right,
he just needed to push that ball a bit further away.
It was a nice, very clever finish from a very
(34:04):
tight angle, but just need to push a bit away
because it could have been really costly to concede in
the fiftieth minute, basically after having the lead. In the
end it wasn't but could have been.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
It could have been. They got the lead in the
thirty sixth Corbyn Piper. This was a terrific piece of
football from Kazuki Nagasawa, who I think just quietly is
just growing into quite an important part of this team.
He stole the ball in midfield, drove forward, played a
really clever pass into Piper who did what of control
and then knock it passed Andrew Redmain for one nil.
(34:39):
Nill makes it, makes it one all at half time.
As I understand it, Birch Jihan Carlo Ataliano absolutely blew
up at halftime, peeled the paint off the walls inside
that changing room for letting the Mariners back into the
game in the fashion that they did. He wasn't having
a go at Amon McCarran, as I understand that, he
was more annoyed about Hughes playing the pass to is
(35:00):
a is not holding on to it. The marin is
getting the ball Rufer being stood up on the edge
of the area to allow the pitch you go to
get the shot away. And then Kelly held and James
not reacting quick enough when the ball was spilled by McCarran.
By the sounds of it, he absolutely went to town
on them at halftime.
Speaker 4 (35:19):
That's good, though, isn't it. It's good.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
I think you've got to do that sometimes. The fans
love hearing about that. The players sometimes need that, they
need the wake up call because it's quite old fashioned.
You know, it's the Alex Ferguson thing. But it's still relevant,
you know, it's still still needed. And as you pinpointed
that sequence, there were five or six moments there weren't.
(35:42):
There are five or six little lapses that ended up
with the goal.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
Well, it clearly worked because it was almost the direct
opposite to last week where Wellington came out, you know,
after the break and consider what three and seven minutes
or whatever it was. They didn't score three, but they
scored two pretty quickly. The penalty which was I'm not
quite sure how the referee hasn't seen that in real time.
That's one of the clearest handballs I think I've ever seen.
(36:08):
Maybe he was unsided, I don't know, but they got
the decision right at the ends. Interesting that man Draca
James took that penalty. Normally in football teams, if a
guy has scored a penalty, the next time a penalty
is awarded for his team, he takes it. He's on pens.
He scored the last one Ramy Nazerene scored against Adelaide
back in round six, but Man Draca James said afterwards
(36:28):
that because James was on the pitch during that time,
that James is the penalty taker. But at one Nill
ahead of Adelaide.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
He wanted to give.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Ramy Nazerene a bit of a confidence boost, a first
goal for the club. He's a striker, Nazerene, so he
gave that spot. Keck up yesterday with the score at
one all, he thought this was a little bit more important.
I'm going to take responsibility, interesting little dynamic that I thought.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
Really interesting and really really unselfish, and consider it from James.
But he'll be the penalty taker. I mean, I really
like the look of that penalty. That's that's a penalty.
That's a no start, a step, none of that crap.
Just pick your spot, hit it well, hit it hard,
hit it in the corner. I mean, that's how you
(37:15):
take a penalty.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Yeah, absolutely, no doubt about it. And shortly after that,
back on the other end and Corbyn Piper plays one
across the box and Carlo Armiento excellent again, scored and
made it three to one. From there, the Phoenix managed
the game pretty well. I mean, the Mariners are pretty limited.
I have to say. They didn't really, as I said before,
(37:36):
present a huge threat to the goal of Amon McCarran.
And look, I think the you know, the result was
the right one. I think the Phoenix managed it out
pretty well. You wrote a piece ahead of this game,
and I'm going to read from this as well, talking
about a crucial six game stretch for Giancloataliano.
Speaker 4 (37:54):
And you're right.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
After Sunday so match against Central Coast which looms as
I must win. Well, they've ticked that box.
Speaker 4 (38:00):
You're right.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
They have one of the toughest stretches of their season,
with the way matches against the Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Raw,
Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets, along with another visit from
Adelaide United is chief. He still under pressure. This win
alleviates the pressure, of course it does, but with a
stretch like that coming up, he's still got to keep
on collecting points, doesn't he or his team does.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Yeah, I mean he's got to show that they've got
they've got more more to give and their progressing, because
that was the issue. It's not just about the points,
it's about where they were going, and no one could
really see where they were going. It just looked like
they were going. They were going downwards. There'll be underdogs
for all four of those away games, I would think,
(38:44):
and even Adelaide it was a really good win against
Adelaide a few weeks ago, but Adelaide was strangely off
color when they came to Wellington or what happened there, So.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
They'll be better as well.
Speaker 3 (38:55):
So that that's a really tough fixture list, but I
guess it's because they had a comparatively more straightforward run
of games up till they haven't. There a lot of
home games and a lot of games against teams in
the bottom half of the table.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
And they'll take a lift from yesterday, won't they. It
was obvious, wasn't it. I Mean, it's just it's absolutely
stating the obvious. But a win does massive things, not
just to a team, but to the crowd, those on
the bench, everybody associated with a football club. And I
think scoring first does that too, doesn't it. You know,
just getting a lead and then getting a win and everything.
(39:34):
You know, you wake up here in Wellington this morning
and the sun's just a little bit brighter. I don't know,
it's just the tonic for everything is just winning football
matches really well.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
You mentioned in training, you know this week they've all
got to spring in their step and the laughing and
the joking and the banter and that happens in any
week because that's what sports people do. They move on,
they're professional. But there's no doubt that when you win,
it does change everything, changes everything for everyone involved with
the club, everyone who follows the club. And that's why
(40:06):
the run of games this season and the way they've
just conceded early goals, crazy goals often conceded first in
a game, has made it so hard for themselves. Now
they've got a little they've got little, a little something
to build on.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Yeah, I've got to keep it going. They do.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Marin's had the ball in the net early yesterday, didn't
They talked off a handball in the area. But yeah,
you're right. It just makes make such a difference. And
yet they'll be they'll be, They'll be swaggering into work,
not getting ahead of themselves. The same with the women's site.
Imagine walking into training the day after a seven nil win.
You'd be high fives and all sorts going on, wouldn't there.
(40:45):
But yeah, the Phoenix, you're right. Both teams actually have
to continue in the fashion that Aukland FC have done,
really just consistently stacked wins on top of wins on
top of wins and you know that is that is
championship stuff. Ben Wayne won't be coming back to Wellington
or to the A League Burge he was. It was
a name on my laundry list that I that I
(41:06):
read out a few weeks ago on the pod. As
you understand, it will probably stay at Port Val. He
starting to get games there.
Speaker 4 (41:11):
Yeah, probably will.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
And there was interest in him around that time you
read out your your wish list.
Speaker 4 (41:17):
I know there was.
Speaker 3 (41:18):
I know there was interest and I know he was
considering it. He was thinking, well, actually I'm not playing,
maybe I should go back because that World Cup is looming,
et cetera, et cetera. But he started to play at
Port Vale. He's got a goal or two and that's
where he wants to be. So it won't happen even
though there was there was interest.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
All right. So there is still the chants for Wellington
to make some moves. They've got Herdecki a Shiga of
course out for the season, so they could if they
wanted to bring somebody in in January and import and
obviously look at other other players as well. Interesting I
mentioned last week on the pot ISA Prince has moved
to Auckland f C has been confirmed initially for the
(41:58):
Oceania Pro League, but but Isopryns. I'm almost certain we'll
integrate into the A League squad as well. We might
even see him this season, who knows, but he's another
one to look out for. The table is just so
tight Perch. After nine rounds, Melbourne City and MacArthur play
game tomorrow night, so that'll complete a complete set of
nine matches, each one point from fourth to ninth, six
(42:20):
teams that is within a point of each other, and
nine teams separated by just four points from fourth down
to last. I mean, Auckland FC and Sydney FC have
cleared out a little bit, but it feels like everybody else,
the other ten teams in the league. On their day,
anyone can beat anyone. This feels like one of the
tightest A League seasons we've ever seen. And it's in
(42:43):
ten and to four does and go. But any of
those ten could pretty much end up in the top six.
With Auckland FC and Sydney FC.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
This is the perfect situation. This is why people enjoy
the A League so much because it's generally quite you know,
there's not these massive gaps or massive cohorts of teams top,
middle and bottom. So long mate continue, you know it
will eventually sort itself out. But the uncertainty is what
(43:15):
we love, isn't it. The uncertainty where you don't really
know what's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
Yeah, and that's demonstrated perfectly over the weekend. Five of
the six games and the A League mens this weekend,
or in five of them, the team lower on the
table beat the team higher on the table. The only
exception was Auckland FC beating the Wanderers. So in all
of the other five games, yes it's a tight table,
but the team who started the game lower beat the
team who started the game higher, So it just goes
(43:40):
to show how tight it is. Sir Wellington off to
Amy Park on Monday night to take on Melbourne victory.
They haven't won there since twenty seventeen. That seems like
an awfully long time ago to me, eight years since
they've been to that patrograss and won a game. But
there's no time like the present, as they say. Quick
check on a couple of keys overseas. You mentioned Ben Wayne.
(44:03):
Of course his Port Vale came up against Matt Garbet's
Peterborough United, So KWV Kewe. In League One. Matt Garbet's
Peterborough got the one nil win, but both of the
two players started. Ryan Thomas scored on his birthday for Peckswaller,
his first goal for anybody since twenty twenty one. I
know he's been out with injury, but that's an incredibly
long time since he last scored. And Tyler bind and
(44:25):
I was so delighted to see this burge. He was
out of the Sheffield United squad for ages. He didn't
play between the thirtieth of August and the sixth of December.
That's over three months without making the Sheffield United first team.
He's come back and he's starting to impress. Got a
goal and man of the match in a three nil
win over Birmingham in the Championship. We've known the quality
(44:47):
of Tyler Binden for a while, but I don't want to
be sitting on the bench, you know, six months out
from a World Cup.
Speaker 3 (44:55):
And to go to a you know, he went to Okay,
it's a championship club, but it's a big chair chip
club with a lot of a lot of pressure. And
then what did they have to start the season? A
run of I think it was five defeats or by
a single goal, and the pressure just and he was
playing in those games, the pressure just ramped up. And
then new coach and he's not playing. So great resilience
(45:18):
from a guy who's still He's still a kid, isn't he.
We forget how young he still is because he's head
all this time, reading and all the things he's done
already in his career.
Speaker 2 (45:27):
Yeah, but the FAUCT just reading a few fan comments
after that game and they're very happy with Tyler Bind
and now that he's back in the team, I think
when he wasn't playing, a lot of people just forgot
about him.
Speaker 4 (45:38):
Really.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
He might have even gone back to Forest if Sheffield
United didn't want to play him and look for another
loan move somewhere because you've got to be playing. But
by the sounds of things, now he's back in A
goal will boost his confidence. He's getting a lot of
good raps from the fans. So yeah, well on to
Tylerbind and it's good to see him back in the
team and displaying the form we always knew that he had,
(46:00):
all right, but I don't it's one of those times
of the year. Well, that time of the year and
we don't actually know what day is, which day is
which I could say Saturday, I wouldn't be able to
see what date that was, but I can tell you
that Aukland FC on Saturday night play Sydney FC away,
two nights later Wellington Phoenix are away at Melbourne Victory,
and the following evening the Wellington Phoenix Women take on
(46:21):
Western Sydney. That is the thirtieth of December. So well,
it just remains for me to wish you and your
family are very merry Christmas and look forward to a
big twenty twenty six for football Fever and for the
game of football in general.
Speaker 3 (46:37):
Thanks Pony, and same to you. I'm sure there'll be
a lot going on in the Pine Household which will
be a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (46:47):
As always, absolutely, we'll catch you in twenty twenty six, folks,
Little Fever
Speaker 3 (47:01):
M
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