April 19, 2026 • 45 mins
Jason Pine and Michael Burgess break down the latest A-League matches for Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC.
Auckland FC go down 1-0 to CCM in a weather-interrupted clash, handing the Premiers' Plate to Newcastle with one round to play.
And Wellington Phoenix are eliminated from finals contention, despite a 2-1 win over WSW in Christchurch.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Football Fever, the podcast keeping you up to date with
the beautiful game with the voice of football Jason Pain
and Zen Herald's Michael Burgess, powered by News Talk ZBI.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Here we go again, Welcome into Football Fever at the
back end of another very intriguing weekend of a league
football I'm Jason Pine. Michael Burgess is here as well.
Didn't get struck by lightning yesterday bird at Go Media Stadium.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
I have to say it was just that I don't
know how it came across in the TV, but the
sound of that thunder was intense, just this crackling in
the distance, like a like out of a movie. And
full credit to all those fans that a came along
with such a bad forecast. More than forteen thousand fans
came along and then they stuck around for an extra
(00:50):
fifty minutes, So great effort by the Auckland fans. But yeah,
what an may. I don't know how it looked on TV,
but it was just an incredible storm.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
It looked biblical on television. I can tell you that
the thunderclap that came through. Seamus my team was on
commentary and he said, look, I'm not sure if you
heard that, well, make no bones about it. We you
heard it. I don't know what it must have been
like there, And yeah, it was no surprise to see
to see the players leave the field for what was
about fifty minutes? Nearly fifty minutes they were off, wasn't it.
(01:19):
So we can talk about that in the overall context
of the game. First things first, though, yesterday's result Auckland
FC nil Central Coast marin is one means that Newcastle
have won the Premier's Plate, so huge congratulations for them.
You think back to New Year's Day when they came
to Walkland. They were sitting in ninth position there when
that day spring boarded them into an excellent twenty twenty six.
(01:41):
They've had just two losses in the fifteen games since.
Massive kurdos to Mark Milligan and his team. They will
be very, very tough to beat come finals. So well
done to Newcastle. Matter is below that on the table
are still to be decided. But can we talk about
this game on the weekend Birge Aukland F nil Central
Coast Mariners won. I don't think there was in the
(02:04):
lack of effort from Auckland FC. I don't think they
didn't give it there all. They had a lot of chances,
quite a bit of possession, just lacking a bit of
quality in the final third. Were they right in front
of goal?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Yeah, yeah, there were, I mean there was, Yeah, there's
plenty of endeavor, unlike say the the MacArthur lost for example,
where they just looked a bit flat and struggled at
going there was you know, they were trying everything, but
they do lack did lack a bit of quality in
the final third. But also there's an undeniable sense that
that individually and collectively they're not where they not where
(02:42):
they were and not where they should be. You know,
there's just there's just a lot of players just a
bit off and that that affects things. And then and
then there's confidence, and then there's a whole thing about
the fact that you know when they when they go behind,
they're a different team.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
I think in January we talked about this, didn't we
that they were in a bit of a whole in January,
that they weren't the Auckland FC that we came to
know and love last season. Six games in January, just
a one win. But then they started to come right
in February went over Sydney FC. They drew with Sydney
straight away afterwards beat the Phoenix five, Neil beat Melbourne
City three and so okay, Auckland f C are back.
You know they're going to charge forward now and retain
(03:19):
the Premier's plate. At this point of the season. How
worried should we be that they are in a bit
of a hole.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Well, quite worried, because there's there's a lot to figure out.
I mean, the good news is if they remain in
the top two, they get the week off, they get
to reset, and then it becomes, you know, a possible
three match season which they can peak for and sort
things out. And let's forget you know, they played quite
(03:47):
well last just what was just last week wasn't and
against Melbourne victory in that they played quite well so.
But the thing is, Piney, the top two, which looked
to fat a complete for a long time, is now
is now quite a big If they don't make that
top two, then then there's a real challenge. But even
if they do make top two, there's plenty to work on,
(04:08):
don't you.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Think, Absolutely absolutely, And they are by no means secure
in the top two. We'll get to the table a
little bit later on when we examine the fixtures for
the final round, and just by complete virtue of the
luck of the draw, we've got a massive Sunday incoming
involving the team's you know, fighting for position inside the
top six. But it's rather mysterious, you know, you look
(04:33):
at it, just the second time Auckland FC have been
kept goalless all season the very first game of the season,
the nil al drawer in the in the very first
game of the season against Melbourne victory was the only
other time they've been kept goalless the season. They've never
before gone four games without a win, even in January
they picked up that victory in there. So I don't
(04:56):
know if there is one thing that can explain it.
It just seems to be a what since they since
they beat Newcastle, they went over to Newcastle one over there,
didn't they and started to I think we thought, okay,
they're going to haul Newcastle in here, Sam Cosgrove with
a brace that day. Four games since that burge loss, draw, draw, lost.
(05:17):
Surely they haven't just put so much effort into beating
Newcastle and Newcastle that it's affected them for the next month.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
No, they haven't. I mean, and those two yeah, two
of those drawers were what we talked, what we called
both called good draws. You know, the draw in Adelaide
was a good draw, and you take that in the
draw against Victory, Okay, they shouldn't have fallen behind twice,
but they came back. But yeah, there are some I mean,
those four matches we've talked about, they've been without Frances
(05:45):
the freeze, and they missed him for the missed him
even more than we probably imagined in terms of especially
in terms of the offensive work on the left link.
But there's got to be more than that, you know,
there's just things aren't clicking like there should be, especially,
(06:06):
I mean, if you think about Sunday's game, the amount
of position they had and the amount of time they
spent in the Central Coast half, and Central Coast defended amazingly,
but still it's Central Coast. You know, they're a team
ninth on the ladder. You're not playing with all respect,
you're not playing a big gun. No.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I thought Andrew Redmain was excellent in Goldfinger amicis I mean,
and it just and seemed to be absolutely loving it
as well. You know, he's a guy who's been around
for three hundred A League men's games. You know, he's
a title winner with Sydney FC. But he just seemed
to be absolutely loving the part they were playing. They
knew they can't make the six. You know, they've got
nothing really to play for apart from professional pride, but
(06:48):
there was plenty of that on the on display yesterday.
Can we go though to the major talking points, certainly
in the first half and probably in the game, and
that was in the seventeenth minute when Marins defend James
Donnahy appeared to deliberately stamp on Sam Cosgrove and after
a long examination, a yellow card was awarded and not
(07:10):
a red card. Now this was a major talking point
after the game. You were at the post match press conference.
I'm going to play the answers to some of your
questions to both coaches. Let's start with Danny Hay when
it was put to him, you know, or he was
asked about the incident. First of all, what was his
initial reaction to the stamp and the fact that it
(07:30):
was a yellow and not a red.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Well, it's one hundred percent of recard, I think anywhere
in the world, that's a red card when the ball's
gone and you take two three steps and you go
out of your way, shorten your stride to stand on
somebody's back. I don't think there can even be a
discussion about it. But listen, we've and there's a reason,
you know, Steve Corrika wasn't on the bench today, and
that's because we've been incredibly frustrated with some of the
(07:55):
quality of the decision making that we seem to be
on the end of.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
So what was the ex explanation given to Danny Hay
about why it was a yellow and not a red.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
The terminology was something along the lines of it wasn't
violent conduct. So how that's not violent conduct is beyond me.
But you know, I guess when you're looking at things
with a certain perspective, you see what you want to see.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Does he think it changed the game?
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Immeasurably. They go down to ten minute at that point,
which they should have. We definitely they can't hold us out.
I can't see that. You think of he's that particular
player that should have been redcarded save one on the
line from our set piece. He made a couple of
massive interceptions a couple of big headers in the box.
(08:41):
If he's not there, who knows what the score would
have been, But I can pretty much guarantee that we
would have gone on to win it.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And just a final comment from Danny Hay on the
entire incident.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
If that had been that, if they should have been
on the other foot, I don't think we're sitting there
having a discussion. We're talking about how an ork C
play got sent off for poor behavior and voln conduct.
That's what we're talking about because it's one hundred percent
going to.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Be recond so not a lot of gray area there
from Danny Haye. Is he suggesting their birds that Auckland
f C Are treated differently?
Speaker 3 (09:15):
He is, Yeah, he's making the suggestion, which you know,
I don't. I don't know if that's the case. I
know they're frustrated with some of the decisions that have
gone against them in the last few weeks. As he
alluded to him in that in that third answer, there's
a there's a sort of building frustration. There has been
with Steve Crorick as well. There's been with some of
(09:36):
the players. But you know, I don't there's no conspiracy
theory here at all, there's there's probably been some poor
officiating at times, but every team cops that and maybe
Auckland had a run of it. But you could sense
the the anger in his voice over this.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
One, Yeah, you could. And I thought, you know, I
watched the press conference and listened to these answers, and
he seemed to be keeping it together pretty well. I think,
you know, privately, you know they'll be boiling, won't they.
But I just thought it was you know, he's not
really beating around the bush there. He's basically saying if
it was reversed and an Auckland f C player had
(10:20):
stamped on the back of a Central Coast Mariners player,
then they would have got a red card. He is
effectively saying that that Auckland f C are treated differently.
I think that is drawing quite a long bow. That
is getting into the conspiracy theory area for me.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Yeah, it is. And you know, I think in every sport,
you see it across every sport in the world, from
the English Premier League to the NRL. There are big
clubs that everyone thinks to get some favors now and again,
and big players too, and that just happens, you know,
And that's fair enough. But the other thing, I don't
(10:58):
think Mariners are what you call that big club. I
think if it was a Sydney of CEA or Melbourn victory,
maybe getting a favor here and there, you might say, okay, yeah,
they're a big established cub. But the Mariners, you know
and not don't don't bring that kind of gravitasin. Yeah.
So Dany's probably gone gone a bit too far with
that answer.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I think he's just I think it's just building frustration though,
wasn't it, because they clearly think that that they have
not got the rubb of the green with the officials
over the last little while. He said that's the reason
Steve Cocker got sent of last week because he was
so frustrated with the things that weren't going his way
the previous week. I mean, Steve Coriker talked about how
you know, the foul count was pretty similar in the
(11:38):
game away at Adelaide, and yet they got eight yellow
cards and his make at nine and Adelaide only got
a couple. So they clearly are seeing a pattern here
which is frustrating them. And look, their perception is their reality.
That's how they're feeling. They they're not making the frustration
up clearly, it's something that is that is niggling away
at them. I would just hate for it to become
(11:59):
a distraction for them as we head into the business
end of the season where there are high stakes in
these upcoming games. I would hate to think that that
there's any sort of I don't know, would you call
it a victim mentality here? I'm not sure?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Kind of and yeah, kind of it is that. Well,
that's what you've got to avoid, you know. I'm sure
they'll be complaining privately or they'll be asking for explanations
over the last few weeks and just making their mess
their point clear behind the scenes, but publicly, they just
got to be careful and probably not not labor it
too much because it's never good because it gets into
(12:36):
the players heads and players start thinking about that, oh,
we always get the rough calls, don't get the rubb
of the green, And you can't go into matches like that,
especially in finals. You've got to go in with a
really clear head, you know, not get angry, not just
just just stay focused. I remember the Warriors went through
this a couple of seasons ago, and it was that
(12:57):
infamous tweet from the Jason Paris, the head of Votaphone,
watching the game, about conspiracy stuff, and it sort of
went on for a few weeks about the Warriors of
getting robbed and and and your webs just stood up
one day and said, you know, we've got to stop.
We're going to stop talking about referees. We just got
to full stop stop talking about it. And I think
that's where Klo I've got to go.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yeah, I agree. Hey, let's hear from Warren Moon. You
had a really interesting on the record discussion with him
at at the press conference, which I want to play
almost in its entirety now. Unfortunately you're not right up
the front with your mic. So I'm going to put
in your questions that you asked Warren Moon, and here
his responses. First of all, he was asked did he
think it was a red card?
Speaker 4 (13:37):
No?
Speaker 5 (13:37):
I thought that would have been harsh. I think just
because someone's put their foot on someone's back doesn't all
automatically make of the red card. If there was an
intent there and if it was malicious, maybe, but for
me it wasn't, and it's just the right outcome for me.
Was the other card mover?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
So straight away. Birds, you asked why he thought it
would have been harsh if it was a red card.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Because he's looking at the ball and when his next
foot needs to come down somewhere, he's not aware of
where he's putting his foot. If it was a stomp,
if it was malicious, I would say that it would
be a red card. But you know, I think we're
so quick to want to make a decision, Oh, that's
a red card when, in my opinion, when I saw it,
(14:18):
he's looking at the ball. He made a strong tackle.
Maybe that was a foul in the first instance from
him from the actual challenge, but he's still looking where
the ball goes, and his eye lines up, not down
at the player's back. And you know, if you look
at the way he put contact on him. He's a
big boy, Sam Costgrove, I think he'll be fine.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
So then you followed up Berge by saying, so you're
saying Warren that it wasn't intentional.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
I'm saying that if you look at the eyeline of
the player, he's looking at where the ball travels, and
he's looking at his next action and he's got to
put his foot somewhere now. If it's in his back.
It does happen. We can't automatically say just because someone's
put their foot in the back of someone, it's always
a red card. And that's my opinion. Now you might disagree.
That's fine, but that's my opinion.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
And to give you your due, Birch, you you asked
another follow up. You you asked Warren Moon whether he
thought they were lucky.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
Yeah, because you obviously feel it was a red card.
So and they know auckuldn't think it was a red card.
I didn't, but then again, I'm going to think that
obviously for my team, and they're going to think it
for them.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
It's not clear cut.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
It could be given, and if it was given, we
had started to warm someone up. So I can see
where you're coming from, because it's one of those ones.
If it was a clear stomp and we're saying, like
Sackles the week before didn't get a red card there,
then we would say, yeah, okay, it's on the fence
and you can consider yourself lucky. At times, I think
that one, if it was given, we would have been Okay,
it's harsh, but we move and we accept it. We've
(15:42):
got the lucky break tonight and we've we've obviously capitalized
from that because it would have been difficult to am
and it's in playing with ten men.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Look, let me tell you what I think. I think
it's a diffinite red card. I just don't understand how
it is not a red card. You talk about eye
line and whether he you know what he was looking at,
and it's not entirely clear on telling what he's looking at.
But he's got enough time to avoid Sam Cosgrove there,
he's aware that Sam Cosgrove is on the ground beneath him.
(16:11):
Put it this way, Berg, if it's a red card,
is there any argument? I mean, why a moon says there, Well,
we would have thought it was a bit harsh, But
if that's a red card, nobody goes, oh that's a
bit unfair, that's very harsh. I think it's a red card.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
It's inexplicable. I think it was quite hilarious too in
some ways, like he's got to put his foot somewhere,
as if sort of he was in Vietnam running through
the jungle with land mines all around him and the
only place to go was on Sam Cosgro's back. You know,
I mean, anyone who's played the sport at any level
(16:45):
knows that look, for a start, you don't always need
to look at the ground when you're running, you know,
and there's a thing called peripheral vision. He knew exactly
what he was doing, There's actually no doubt in my mind.
And so it was intention It was intentional. It wasn't
It wasn't a massive stomp, was it, you know, But
it was intentional, and so it's deliberate. So there's got
(17:08):
to be some consequences for that, and there basically was
no consequences. So I'm not really sure how the decision
came about. I don't know what you think. All I
could think about was the referee took a long time
and maybe he sort of over analyzed and overthought things
a bit.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Well. Tom Doyle on's Sideline in the Sky commentary was
sort of listening in and he made the point on
the commentary that what they were discussing was the eye line.
Where was James Donnahy looking when this all happened. I mean,
and I guess the suggestion is that if he was
looking down and could see Sam Cosgrove there, then that's
deliberate the fact that he had his eyes up is
(17:50):
some sort of mitigating factor. But as you say, peripheral
vision again, I just go back to it. If it's
given as a red cap art. I don't think there's
any argument at all that you can mount from a
you know, from a central coast mayor. On this point
of view, I reckon James Donahan knew he got away
with one.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Well, yeah, I mean there was a I don't know
if you saw that the cameras that had cut to
him after the decision, there was a bit of a
smirk on his face, you know, and like he seemed
to change his stride as well. You know, it wasn't
like if he came down off that challenge, which which
actually kind of elbowed or forearmed Cosgrove in the back
of the head as well. But he came down. It
wasn't like he was stumbling and falling and then he
(18:29):
had to regain his balance. He landed quite well, took off,
changed his stride. So yeah, there are you know, if
it was if it wasn't a quarter of law, there'd
be so many mitigating factors against James Donne here wouldn't
be funny.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, and you will you will not convince Danny Hay
and it wasn't a I mean that there is. There
is one hundred percent cast. I am sure about that
as they are that that ball in the semi final
against Victory last year didn't go out and gives you
m might crossed it. You know, that's just another one.
We'd chalk up another one too. That is the wrong decision. Look,
it is what it is. They played on Auckland I
(19:06):
think had enough chances to win the goal. That the
goal that the Marin has scored shortly after that red card.
Actually so I wonder whether there was I don't know
whether that was part of the overall equation, but Jay
Goodwood rights giving the ball up. You know, on halfway
Marin has played quickly, ali Ugla has finished well on
the far post. There's still plenty of time for Auckland
(19:29):
to get back. And then of course there's the rain delay.
Did I'm just trying to remember. Did did Auckland FC
have major momentum before the delay? Like, could you say,
for example, it really halted their momentum. Without the rain
delay they would have gone on and won the game.
I don't know. If I don't know, if you can
I think.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
It was the opposite. I think the rain delay at
the time, I was thinking the raindelay helped them because
they needed to they needed to reset. They were you know,
their minds were all over the place for a few
minutes after the red card and things were still a
bit messy. So I think the rain delay was good
because they could go and reset. They came back out,
had the what ten to fifteens for a halftime, and
then at the second half, so yeah, I mean they
(20:09):
had plenty of time to do something. And that's probably
the major issue out of the matches. They had. What
did they have? Well, Central Coast Gordon at the nineteenth minute,
so they had a long time to find an equalizer
and more. But it is a unavoidable fact that if
Central Coast got into ten men, which they should have,
it's going to be a different result. You know, Central
(20:30):
Coast is not going to hang on for a nil
nil with ten men. I just I think Danny Hay's
right in that situation. I just cannot see it. So,
you know, it sounds like Orgnif's his complaint will be
moaning because they had plenty of time, But in this case,
you can it's justified.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Yeah, I agree. I think it is justified. And yeah,
I mean nothing's going to happen. I mean they may
get a I'm sure Terry mcflin's going to ask for
a please explain from John Moss. They had a referees
and who knows, they might come out and say, yeah, actually,
on second look and with the you know, with the
benefit of having a relook at it, it is a
(21:07):
red card. But you know, Jonathan Barrero had a good
long look at it, didn't he He he had a
long long look at it. Anyway, he's not labor the point.
Red card not given. Auckland FC don't win the game
at home this season five wins, four draws and four losses,
so just five wins from thirteen home games this season.
(21:28):
They won eight at home last season, drew four and
lost just two. You know, the other thing that I
looked at last night was was the points in the
last five games. Newcastle have only got five points in
the last five games. They have given Auckland every opportunity
to capitalize on their stumble, and yet Auckland themselves only
have five points from the last five games. So you know,
(21:52):
it's the gap has stayed exactly the same in the
run in and here we are and now we've run
out of games. Auckland FC can't catch Newcastle anymore because
they haven't been able to pick up maximum points in
the last month.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
I found that a staggering stat when you sent this
through last night. And this is going to really hurt Auckland.
You know, they were so proud of what they did
last season again in the Premier's plate and it was
their big game to retain it. They had some wobbles
in January, but as you said, they will look back
on course, and I thought, I think a lot of
people thought, with their experience, with their pedigree, that that
(22:27):
was the most likely outcome. So and you know, to
lose it on the final weekend and some kind of
shootout where both teams are going through it and they
end up being eached by Newcastle was different. But to
give it up the week before without making Newcastle sweat
and losing at home in your last game of the season.
There are just so many painful elements to this one,
(22:49):
aren't they.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Yeah, there are and there are. And now instead of
looking ahead, which there's no point to doing anymore, because
you can't catch Newcastle with a four point lead and
only one game to go. All of a sudden, Auckland
FC are looking over their shoulders because while the top
six are locked in now, their table positions are not.
And Auckland FC, even though they're second going into the
(23:12):
final round and therefore have their destiny in their own hands,
they are by no means secure in the top six.
Newcastle forty five points their premiers. Auckland have forty one,
Adelaide have forty, Sydney FC have thirty eight, Melbourne City
have thirty eight, Melbourne Victory have thirty seven. Here's one
very simple way of looking at it. Birch Auckland are
(23:34):
away at Sydney on Sunday, Adelaide are away at Melbourne City.
If Auckland FC don't beat Sydney and Adelaide beat Melbourne City,
Adelaide will go past Auckland. Auckland will drop out of
the top two if they can't beat Sydney and Adelaide.
Bead and Adelaide beat Melbourne City and those two results
(23:55):
are not beyond the realms of possibility. If Sydney FC
would have beat Auckland by three or more goals, which
feels unlikely, but it's still a possibility Auckland could drop
down to fourth from being in the top two for
the majority of the season. They could find themselves having
to host any elimination final before they even start thinking
about home and away semis, where they would have the
(24:16):
disadvantage because they would be at home first.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Yeah, I mean, it's just it's amazing how things have changed.
I mean, for the last few weeks Orkan have seen
behind the scenes would have been planning the home and
way scenario and the week off and making all those
plans because they thought they were going to be there.
Everyone thought they were going to be there. They had
a handy buffer most of the time. Now it's going
to get really, really nervy. Like Sydney's see been up
(24:43):
and down, but it's not the place you want to
go on the last game of the season, when you're
out the form and battling and then you're worried about
about other results. I mean, or see that they thrive
on being underdogs, and they thrive not in the dogs,
but they thrive on these situations. Back to the wall
and I'm sure they'll come up with a good performance,
(25:04):
but there's so much at stake Now.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
It's not as though Sydney FC aren't aren't deeply motivated either.
If they win, Sydney FC, even if they can't go
past Auckland f C with the three goal margin, they
know that if they win, they finish in the top four,
so they will host an elimination final. That's all. That's
all the motivation they need is to, you know, is
to to win the game and host in week one
of the finals. They they may not end up in
(25:30):
the top two, but they can certainly ensure their place
in the top four. Adelaide United. I watched them yesterday
against MacArthur. They're irresistible force at the moment. I know
they were at home, but it would not be beyond
the realms of possibility that they would with the possible.
You know, if they know that that because by the
time they kick off, they'll know that that whether or
(25:54):
not they can make the top two. Imagine hearing just
before you go out, hey guys, Auckland f C have
drawn with Sydney or or lost to Sydney. Win this
game and we're top two. My goodness, imagine the shot
shot in the army you get by.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
That, I mean the other thing is Melbourne City is
not an intimidating team to play away. No, they're not
in Melbourn victory. They don't for whatever reason. There's various
things about what's happening with the fan base since Melbourne
Heart and all these other kinds of things. They don't
get big crowds at the moment, so it's it's a
great place to go, you know. And yeah, it's like
(26:31):
Aucle Left C. If you if we're talking about, oh,
they've got to go to Sydney and get a point,
you'd be like, okay, well that's not easy, but you'd
back them to get a point. But the reality is
a point may not be enough or probably won't be enough.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Not if Adelaide win, it won't be Yeah, a drawer
would would take Auckland to forty two points. Adelaide on
forty they would jump past them. Let's flip this though,
let's not catastrophize. Auckland Left C could go to Sydney
and win over there. They you know, they beat Sydney
FC at home this year one nil with the Sam
Cosgrove goal, the one all draw away. As you say,
(27:07):
Sydney FC haven't exactly been setting the world on fire
in the last little while. They've only got five points
from their last five games as well, so they're not
coming in red hot either. Look, Aukland f C could
well go. I mean that might be enough motivation for them.
They know that if they go to Sydney FC on
Sunday and win the game, they are in the top two.
So maybe after everything we've said, that's all that they're thinking.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
That's right, and they you know, there's still a very
good team away from home. In fact, they're much better
away from home for whatever mysterious vision. Well, I think
it's because they're essentially they like playing on the counter,
don't They know that that does suit them and it's
harder to do that at home. So yeah, they're good
(27:50):
away from home. It's still in their hands, isn't it.
It's still in their hands, but it's just way way
tighter than anyone would have been mentioned.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Yeah, and you're right, you land on a great point.
It is still in their hands. The others need Auckland
f C to stumble. Adelaide need Auckland f C to stumble.
The teams below Sydney FC obviously they're playing Auckland FC,
but Adelaide. If Auckland f C were to beat Sydney,
Adelaide can't catch them, So it is all in their hands.
Just going with the football match that has to be
(28:21):
that is surely that just has to be the message.
And I mean it's no different from any other game,
is it? But I don't know. I mean Sunday's mass
of five o'clock Auckland FC away at Sydney FC. Seven
o'clock Melbourne City will host Adelaide at Amy Park. What's
your gut telling you, Birch. Can Auckland FC get the
win and secure that top two spot at Alian's on Sunday?
Speaker 3 (28:42):
They can? They can, Yeah, they definitely can't. But I
can't lie. I'm a bit worried.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
We wait to see, We wait to see. Big week
coming up for Steve Kayriker and his players as they
contemplate the final round of the regular season.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
The Football Feaver Podcast with Jason Vine and Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Let's go back to Saturday in christ Church, Wellington Phoenix
two Western Sydney Wanderers won. That result at full time
kept the Phoenix's finals hopes alive for a couple of hours.
They were they snuffed out when Melbourne City beat Brisbane
in the following game, and so Wellington Phoenix's top six
hopes are now extinguished. Even given that, I thought it
(29:24):
was a good game. They played well, deserved to win.
I got a say Birch being down there, it was
a great occasion. They love their football in christ Church.
Eleven thousand turned up. That was the second highest home
crowd of the season for Wellington. I'd be taking a
game there every year if I was Wellington.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
I think you got to. I think you got to.
It looked fantastic, came across so well on television and
it's the bonus Look number one, they're start of devating
football down there, so you think they're going to turn up.
It's a way to build a fan base. But either
stadium you play it down there, you're going to be
(30:02):
playing in a much better stadium than when well at
to normally play. So yeah, a no brainer is to
take games south every year.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Yeah, I think So. Steve Rossis was there the head
or the chief executive of APL on Saturday. I know
was in Auckland yesterday as well, so doing his New
Zealand tour. Look if he looks around and thinks, you know,
if they're looking at more expansion in the A League,
you know christ Church is not off the table. I
don't reckon as I say, they love it down there,
good population based that got South Island United as a
bit of a tester in the Oceania Pro League. I
(30:34):
was just so impressed with the enthusiasm of those who
turned up, the noise they made. And to tell you what, Birds,
that's the other thing that ground. Much as it's been
a temporary home for teams in christ Church, if you
could pick up Apollo Project Stadium and drop it down
in Wellington, it would be perfect for the Phoenix. Twelve
(30:55):
to fifteen thousand rectangular, intimate, good playing surface, that would
be perfect in Wellington for the Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
It must have really reminded them what they're missing.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
You know.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
I don't always like to criticize Wellington Stadium, but you
know it's just not ideal for sports that need a
rectangular stadium. And yeah, that size, it just creates the atmosphere, right,
and that's what everyone wants at live sport. You go
along to be part of something, part of an atmosphere.
So the fans would have enjoyed it. The players would
(31:27):
have loved it. Yeah, it's it's the answer. But look,
if they keep going back there, at least that's something.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Indeed, indeed, if I is a bringing up double figure
goals for the season, nice passing move across from Tim
Payne and he nodded that, and Brandon Burrello pulled one
back for Western Sydney. I think the Phoenix will look
back at that and think they were a bit slow
to react to a short corner. Burrellos put it in
the corner. It's taken a touch off all away Am.
You couldn't keep it out. But then Kazuki Nagasawa scoring
(31:56):
what eventually turned out to be the winning goal from
another Tim Payne cross in a big say from Josh
Olawayomy near the end to keep it at two one.
I think they deserve to win the game. Western Sydney.
What a dumpster fire of a season for them, Burge,
I mean honestly, talk about me giving them the kiss
of death at the start of the season. Here's your premiers,
(32:17):
Western Sydney, here's your premieer is They've lost their last
four games, one game to go. They're five points behind
at the bottom. They for the first time in their
history have claimed the regular season Wooden Spoon, What what
a terrible season for the Wonder It's five wins from
twenty five games.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Yeah, I mean, you could say it's unravel but it's
much much, much, most worse than that. You know, it's
just been an absolute mess. Something's gone horribly wrong. Because,
as we've we've talked about so many times, you look
at the squad and you think there's plenty of good
players there. It's such a shame because they've been I'm
(32:59):
sure they're been such a good club and a great
team to watch.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Oh boy, oh boy, yeah, oh boy, oh boy. Indeed,
o Folk Talay's got work to do there. At least
he's got some runway. You know, he knows he's got
the team. He's probably at the moment working through the
players who are on contract or off contract and working
at who wants to keep where it needs to strengthen,
all that sort of thing. But man, for a club
with such a proud history and a massive catchment area
of fans and proud fans, when they turn up in numbers,
(33:27):
I know you know that they I'm sure disillusioned by
what's happened to their football club. Let's see what happens
when they come up again, or when they come around
again at the start of next season. Since Chris Greenacre
took over, loss drawer win win, win, loss, win, thirteen
points in seven games. Only Melbourne City have more points
(33:48):
in that seven game stretch than Wellington. So thirteen points
from seven games. In the twenty games before that, Wellington
collected just eighteen Sorry that in the eighteen games before that,
just twenty points. So the Greenacre effect is undisputed. I
mean they got to give him the job, right, I
mean it's the best job interview, the best audition, the
(34:09):
best dress rehearsal for the full time job he possibly
could have put together.
Speaker 3 (34:14):
Yeah, I mean he'll get the job, and then I
guess the pressure comes on more in your full time
because then you've got to really prove you you belong.
But he'll have an off season to make his decision
around players and off season to get his ideas into
the squad about what he wants. And I think everyone
(34:34):
in New Zealand football is as really happy for him
because he's been waiting a long long time. He's been
an assistant for so long and he's had a couple
of interim chances, so to finally get a chance, you
just you just like to see, don't. I always like
to see loyal club servants get a chance like this
(34:55):
and then take it, not because they deserve it, but
because they they get the chance, and then they prove
that they belong on merit.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
He's earned it, hasn't he? He's earned it. What else
could he have done apart from gett them into the six,
which you know, I mean they were already you know,
coming from a long way back, you know, to put
together the string of results that he has, I mean
the last five games, four wins in the last five. Ironically,
the lost in Melbourne City is probably what's going to
keep them out of the six, but you know, I
mean it's still a pretty good record. Speaking of club servants,
(35:27):
Alex Rufe picked up his eighth yellow card on the
weekend that initiates a ban. I think it's a two
game ban actually for eight yellow cards, So he'll miss
next week and probably the first game of next season.
Is there a scenario under which Alex Rufer has played
his last game for Wellington Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Yeah, I mean I've heard a bit of talk about that.
Over the weekend. I know that in some ways he would,
I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Well.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
I know he'd appreciate a fresh challenge and it can
reinvigorate you. He's been there a long long time and
he's been through a lot more bad times than good times.
But I'll put it to you. Can you see Alex
Rufer playing somewhere.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Else, not in the A League?
Speaker 3 (36:14):
I can't.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
It just feels like that would be you know. But
then having said that, you know Andrew Durante played two
d two hundred and seventy games and he turned up
at Western United to play against Phoenix. I think I
think they'll be suitors for him. Newcastle Jets were one
who were very keen on Alex Rufer. If reports are
to be believed, I think Alex Ruf is one of
(36:36):
the few players in the Phoenix squad currently who would
probably make every other A League side. I think he
probably he probably makes the Auckland FC side. Alex Rufer.
He's a very, very good A League footballer, so there's
no doubt that he'll have suitors. What I guess Phoenix
fans will be hoping that the relationship with Chris Greenacre
(36:57):
will be enough for Alex Rufer to decide that he
wants to be a one club man, that he wants
to stay at the Phoenix and achieve something that he
hasn't been able to. He came very very close a
couple of seasons ago, you know, leading the team to
you know, the cusp of the Grand Final, wasn't quite
able to get it done. I think if Chris Greenacre
can convince Alex Ruffer that there is a bright future
(37:20):
at the club over the next two or three seasons
under his watch, then I think Rufer would stay. I
know he's also had the for a while, has had
the thought in the back of his mind that perhaps
he might play up in Europe, in particular in Switzerland,
where his uncle Winton of course played with with such
you know, such quality. I think Shane might have even
(37:40):
spent some time up there as well, so maybe that's
that's something as well. He is off contract that that
that is beyond dispute. So yeah, I guess that if
you you know, want to put the cart before the horse,
I think, you know, you get Greenacre signed up and
then I think it's up to Chris Greenacher Creenacre to
convince Alex Ruffer to stay and I feel like he'd
be able to.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Yeah, I mean, he would just have to believe in
the Greenacre project. He'll have to believe that. The next
couple of years there's going to be a lot of
happy times because he's like, he'll want to play finals football,
you know, he won't want to be puddling around anymore
like a lot of these seasons recently where they're just
not in contention. He'll want to be playing in the
big games. And also this is probably his last big contract,
(38:23):
you know, so at his age, who want to make
the most of the fact that he is in demand. So, yeah,
there's a bit to think about. But he seems to
be so so attached to the Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Yeah, one hundred and eighty nine games for the club.
And it wasn't a straight line either. For the first
five seasons at the club, he hardly played you know,
I'm just looking at the stats now. In the first
season he played once, second season three times, four times
after that, three times after that, and only one start
for the club in his first four season in Wellington.
(39:01):
So it was so he was he was stalled on
the start line. It was only ready when Mark ru
Dan turned up in twenty eighteen nineteen that he said,
Alex Rufer, you are a starting player for me. Show
me what you've got, and he did and since then
he has been an absolute fixture in the side. Because
I'm thinking as well, it feels like Alex Rufer has
been twenty nine forever. He's still twenty nine thirty one?
(39:24):
So did I so did if you're Alex, Yeah, I
feel like I checked that when you said that, when
you saw at his age. Honestly, I seriously feel like
he's been twenty nine for about four years but doesn't
turn thirty until June, so maybe there is still, you know,
quite a bit of gas in the tank. But I
think most Phoenix fans would, if they had their preference,
want their captain to stay. He could go on and
(39:45):
he could beat Andrew Durante's club record of two hundred
and seventy odd games in the A League, you know,
if he stayed for another if he got another three
or four year deal or whatever, it might be so
and I think that would be fitting for him. He
almost certainly well, if he stays, he'll be the second
player to bring up to two one hundred games. But yeah,
I hope he stays. The Phoenix finished their season Friday
(40:05):
night away at MacArthur. A win would see them finish seventh.
A draw might also be enough to finish seventh of
Marins don't beat Newcastle on Saturday. I think given everything
we mentioned this last week, butch and we seventh, actually,
all things being equal, given where they were a month
and a half ago, might not be a bad outcome.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
If you're at this end of season function with the
seventh place, there'll be there'll be quite a few smiles,
you know. I really do think that it's a sort
of to go into the next season. You've got a
foundation compared to where they could have been compared to
the last season when they're having that bloody what was
it that playoff of death up in Darwin or somewhere
to get the chance to like, you know, don't have
(40:46):
to do that again. I mean, so, yeah, seventh is
very credible considering where they were.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Yep, I think that that will be the tenor of
the of the end of season function, which which is
actually next week. It's our next Tuesday, So yeah, get
along their burgeon. I'll let you know what the vibe
is like in the room. Just before we leave the Phoenix.
Just a quick word on a function I was lucky
enough to attend on Friday night in christ Church put
on by Center Circle. They do amazing work in the
(41:15):
christ Church community for grassroots football. Bobby Armond, the famous
All White, is their chair and I've got a wonderful
committee and they put together a function Friday night where
I think for the very first time on stage were
the three All Whites World Cup coaches John ed Said,
Ricky Herbert and Darren Baisley in a panel discussion. There
were also there was a chat with Bobby arm and
(41:37):
Steve Wooden and Ricky as players in that eighty two team,
Ben sigmund Aarren Clapham, Annalie Longo, we're up there. Then
Darren Beasley and Tony Reading's talking about twenty twenty six.
Well attended, good auction on the night. I just yeah,
one of those one of those really cool functions where
the football family came together and you talk about vibes.
(41:58):
Vibe in the room was great, Burg. It was a
a terrific night.
Speaker 3 (42:01):
Sounds amazing. Just a lineup Piney, I mean it's a
hell of a lineup and I can imagine there were
some great stories told as well.
Speaker 2 (42:09):
Absolutely some terrific stories told, some I hadn't heard before actually.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
Which were very good, which were very very good.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
Well done to Center Circle for the event.
Speaker 1 (42:19):
You put together good balls Beaver with Jason Paide and
Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Just finish on the Ninja A League elimination finals. We've
had this long sort of break. Now we've got the
elimination finals. Canberra United third place hosting Melbourne Victory sixth
on Saturday at four and then Saturday night at seven
Brisbane against Adelaide. Phoenix will face the highest ranked winner
in their home and away semis. So if Canberra win,
it'll be them who the Phoenix play. If Canberra were
(42:46):
to lose to victory, then the Phoenix will face the
winner of Brisbane against Adelaide. And I heard over the
weekend Birch we can lock in Pott into a park
Sunday May tenth at two point thirty in the afternoon
for the home leg of that semi. So so that's
one to put a ring around and hopefully they can
make a cauldron of pottydoor park. Similarly to the way
(43:09):
that we saw christ Church turn out on the weekend
for the men Rectangular. Put some extra sipts in, get
four thousand in there. It'll be a great place to
welcome a team too for the home league of a semi,
wouldn't it.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
It would And they've got that timing spot on. We
talked about the possible timing a couple of weeks ago
and we're sort of analyzing what it could be given
the Australian audience, given this, given that the travel times
for fans, everything, and I think two thirty is just
right because you've also haven't got the lights to have
you so an afternoon finals game just doesn't any better
(43:44):
than that, It really doesn't.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
No, it'll be it'll be terrific. And yeah, they do
have to have the early start just in case it
goes to extra time and possibly penalties. Yeah, they have
to have enough light to allow that to happen. So
there you go, Phoenix fans, two thirty Sunday, the tenth
of Man. Expect that to be made official in the
next little while. But that's the word I got over
the weekend that that will be the day of the
(44:06):
home semi against one of the teams that comes through
from the elimination finals. This weekend So this weekend in
terms of the New Zealand sides. Seven o'clock Friday night
Wellington Phoenix finished their season away at MacArthur. Then Sunday,
a massive Sunday incoming Auckland FC, Sydney FC and then
Melbourne City Adelaide, and then we'll have the top six.
(44:30):
Call it birge our, Auckland f C. A top two
side or not.
Speaker 3 (44:35):
Yes, they will stay there. It'll be nervous, tight, tense,
everything you want, but they'll find a way to stay
on top two.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
I tend to agree. I tend to agree that's what
I'm expecting as well. Whatever happens, we're back with a
reaction to it and a review of the weekend next
Monday on Football Fever
Football Fever, the podcast keeping you up to date with
the beautiful game with the voice of football Jason Pain
and Zen Herald's Michael Burgess, powered by News Talk ZBI.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Here we go again, Welcome into Football Fever at the
back end of another very intriguing weekend of a league
football I'm Jason Pine. Michael Burgess is here as well.
Didn't get struck by lightning yesterday bird at Go Media Stadium.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
I have to say it was just that I don't
know how it came across in the TV, but the
sound of that thunder was intense, just this crackling in
the distance, like a like out of a movie. And
full credit to all those fans that a came along
with such a bad forecast. More than forteen thousand fans
came along and then they stuck around for an extra
(00:50):
fifty minutes, So great effort by the Auckland fans. But yeah,
what an may. I don't know how it looked on TV,
but it was just an incredible storm.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
It looked biblical on television. I can tell you that
the thunderclap that came through. Seamus my team was on
commentary and he said, look, I'm not sure if you
heard that, well, make no bones about it. We you
heard it. I don't know what it must have been
like there, And yeah, it was no surprise to see
to see the players leave the field for what was
about fifty minutes? Nearly fifty minutes they were off, wasn't it.
(01:19):
So we can talk about that in the overall context
of the game. First things first, though, yesterday's result Auckland
FC nil Central Coast marin is one means that Newcastle
have won the Premier's Plate, so huge congratulations for them.
You think back to New Year's Day when they came
to Walkland. They were sitting in ninth position there when
that day spring boarded them into an excellent twenty twenty six.
(01:41):
They've had just two losses in the fifteen games since.
Massive kurdos to Mark Milligan and his team. They will
be very, very tough to beat come finals. So well
done to Newcastle. Matter is below that on the table
are still to be decided. But can we talk about
this game on the weekend Birge Aukland F nil Central
Coast Mariners won. I don't think there was in the
(02:04):
lack of effort from Auckland FC. I don't think they
didn't give it there all. They had a lot of chances,
quite a bit of possession, just lacking a bit of
quality in the final third. Were they right in front
of goal?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Yeah, yeah, there were, I mean there was, Yeah, there's
plenty of endeavor, unlike say the the MacArthur lost for example,
where they just looked a bit flat and struggled at
going there was you know, they were trying everything, but
they do lack did lack a bit of quality in
the final third. But also there's an undeniable sense that
that individually and collectively they're not where they not where
(02:42):
they were and not where they should be. You know,
there's just there's just a lot of players just a
bit off and that that affects things. And then and
then there's confidence, and then there's a whole thing about
the fact that you know when they when they go behind,
they're a different team.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
I think in January we talked about this, didn't we
that they were in a bit of a whole in January,
that they weren't the Auckland FC that we came to
know and love last season. Six games in January, just
a one win. But then they started to come right
in February went over Sydney FC. They drew with Sydney
straight away afterwards beat the Phoenix five, Neil beat Melbourne
City three and so okay, Auckland f C are back.
You know they're going to charge forward now and retain
(03:19):
the Premier's plate. At this point of the season. How
worried should we be that they are in a bit
of a hole.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Well, quite worried, because there's there's a lot to figure out.
I mean, the good news is if they remain in
the top two, they get the week off, they get
to reset, and then it becomes, you know, a possible
three match season which they can peak for and sort
things out. And let's forget you know, they played quite
(03:47):
well last just what was just last week wasn't and
against Melbourne victory in that they played quite well so.
But the thing is, Piney, the top two, which looked
to fat a complete for a long time, is now
is now quite a big If they don't make that
top two, then then there's a real challenge. But even
if they do make top two, there's plenty to work on,
(04:08):
don't you.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Think, Absolutely absolutely, And they are by no means secure
in the top two. We'll get to the table a
little bit later on when we examine the fixtures for
the final round, and just by complete virtue of the
luck of the draw, we've got a massive Sunday incoming
involving the team's you know, fighting for position inside the
top six. But it's rather mysterious, you know, you look
(04:33):
at it, just the second time Auckland FC have been
kept goalless all season the very first game of the season,
the nil al drawer in the in the very first
game of the season against Melbourne victory was the only
other time they've been kept goalless the season. They've never
before gone four games without a win, even in January
they picked up that victory in there. So I don't
(04:56):
know if there is one thing that can explain it.
It just seems to be a what since they since
they beat Newcastle, they went over to Newcastle one over there,
didn't they and started to I think we thought, okay,
they're going to haul Newcastle in here, Sam Cosgrove with
a brace that day. Four games since that burge loss, draw, draw, lost.
(05:17):
Surely they haven't just put so much effort into beating
Newcastle and Newcastle that it's affected them for the next month.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
No, they haven't. I mean, and those two yeah, two
of those drawers were what we talked, what we called
both called good draws. You know, the draw in Adelaide
was a good draw, and you take that in the
draw against Victory, Okay, they shouldn't have fallen behind twice,
but they came back. But yeah, there are some I mean,
those four matches we've talked about, they've been without Frances
(05:45):
the freeze, and they missed him for the missed him
even more than we probably imagined in terms of especially
in terms of the offensive work on the left link.
But there's got to be more than that, you know,
there's just things aren't clicking like there should be, especially,
(06:06):
I mean, if you think about Sunday's game, the amount
of position they had and the amount of time they
spent in the Central Coast half, and Central Coast defended amazingly,
but still it's Central Coast. You know, they're a team
ninth on the ladder. You're not playing with all respect,
you're not playing a big gun. No.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I thought Andrew Redmain was excellent in Goldfinger amicis I mean,
and it just and seemed to be absolutely loving it
as well. You know, he's a guy who's been around
for three hundred A League men's games. You know, he's
a title winner with Sydney FC. But he just seemed
to be absolutely loving the part they were playing. They
knew they can't make the six. You know, they've got
nothing really to play for apart from professional pride, but
(06:48):
there was plenty of that on the on display yesterday.
Can we go though to the major talking points, certainly
in the first half and probably in the game, and
that was in the seventeenth minute when Marins defend James
Donnahy appeared to deliberately stamp on Sam Cosgrove and after
a long examination, a yellow card was awarded and not
(07:10):
a red card. Now this was a major talking point
after the game. You were at the post match press conference.
I'm going to play the answers to some of your
questions to both coaches. Let's start with Danny Hay when
it was put to him, you know, or he was
asked about the incident. First of all, what was his
initial reaction to the stamp and the fact that it
(07:30):
was a yellow and not a red.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Well, it's one hundred percent of recard, I think anywhere
in the world, that's a red card when the ball's
gone and you take two three steps and you go
out of your way, shorten your stride to stand on
somebody's back. I don't think there can even be a
discussion about it. But listen, we've and there's a reason,
you know, Steve Corrika wasn't on the bench today, and
that's because we've been incredibly frustrated with some of the
(07:55):
quality of the decision making that we seem to be
on the end of.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
So what was the ex explanation given to Danny Hay
about why it was a yellow and not a red.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
The terminology was something along the lines of it wasn't
violent conduct. So how that's not violent conduct is beyond me.
But you know, I guess when you're looking at things
with a certain perspective, you see what you want to see.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Does he think it changed the game?
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Immeasurably. They go down to ten minute at that point,
which they should have. We definitely they can't hold us out.
I can't see that. You think of he's that particular
player that should have been redcarded save one on the
line from our set piece. He made a couple of
massive interceptions a couple of big headers in the box.
(08:41):
If he's not there, who knows what the score would
have been, But I can pretty much guarantee that we
would have gone on to win it.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And just a final comment from Danny Hay on the
entire incident.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
If that had been that, if they should have been
on the other foot, I don't think we're sitting there
having a discussion. We're talking about how an ork C
play got sent off for poor behavior and voln conduct.
That's what we're talking about because it's one hundred percent
going to.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Be recond so not a lot of gray area there
from Danny Haye. Is he suggesting their birds that Auckland
f C Are treated differently?
Speaker 3 (09:15):
He is, Yeah, he's making the suggestion, which you know,
I don't. I don't know if that's the case. I
know they're frustrated with some of the decisions that have
gone against them in the last few weeks. As he
alluded to him in that in that third answer, there's
a there's a sort of building frustration. There has been
with Steve Crorick as well. There's been with some of
(09:36):
the players. But you know, I don't there's no conspiracy
theory here at all, there's there's probably been some poor
officiating at times, but every team cops that and maybe
Auckland had a run of it. But you could sense
the the anger in his voice over this.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
One, Yeah, you could. And I thought, you know, I
watched the press conference and listened to these answers, and
he seemed to be keeping it together pretty well. I think,
you know, privately, you know they'll be boiling, won't they.
But I just thought it was you know, he's not
really beating around the bush there. He's basically saying if
it was reversed and an Auckland f C player had
(10:20):
stamped on the back of a Central Coast Mariners player,
then they would have got a red card. He is
effectively saying that that Auckland f C are treated differently.
I think that is drawing quite a long bow. That
is getting into the conspiracy theory area for me.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Yeah, it is. And you know, I think in every sport,
you see it across every sport in the world, from
the English Premier League to the NRL. There are big
clubs that everyone thinks to get some favors now and again,
and big players too, and that just happens, you know,
And that's fair enough. But the other thing, I don't
(10:58):
think Mariners are what you call that big club. I
think if it was a Sydney of CEA or Melbourn victory,
maybe getting a favor here and there, you might say, okay, yeah,
they're a big established cub. But the Mariners, you know
and not don't don't bring that kind of gravitasin. Yeah.
So Dany's probably gone gone a bit too far with
that answer.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I think he's just I think it's just building frustration though,
wasn't it, because they clearly think that that they have
not got the rubb of the green with the officials
over the last little while. He said that's the reason
Steve Cocker got sent of last week because he was
so frustrated with the things that weren't going his way
the previous week. I mean, Steve Coriker talked about how
you know, the foul count was pretty similar in the
(11:38):
game away at Adelaide, and yet they got eight yellow
cards and his make at nine and Adelaide only got
a couple. So they clearly are seeing a pattern here
which is frustrating them. And look, their perception is their reality.
That's how they're feeling. They they're not making the frustration
up clearly, it's something that is that is niggling away
at them. I would just hate for it to become
(11:59):
a distraction for them as we head into the business
end of the season where there are high stakes in
these upcoming games. I would hate to think that that
there's any sort of I don't know, would you call
it a victim mentality here? I'm not sure?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Kind of and yeah, kind of it is that. Well,
that's what you've got to avoid, you know. I'm sure
they'll be complaining privately or they'll be asking for explanations
over the last few weeks and just making their mess
their point clear behind the scenes, but publicly, they just
got to be careful and probably not not labor it
too much because it's never good because it gets into
(12:36):
the players heads and players start thinking about that, oh,
we always get the rough calls, don't get the rubb
of the green, And you can't go into matches like that,
especially in finals. You've got to go in with a
really clear head, you know, not get angry, not just
just just stay focused. I remember the Warriors went through
this a couple of seasons ago, and it was that
(12:57):
infamous tweet from the Jason Paris, the head of Votaphone,
watching the game, about conspiracy stuff, and it sort of
went on for a few weeks about the Warriors of
getting robbed and and and your webs just stood up
one day and said, you know, we've got to stop.
We're going to stop talking about referees. We just got
to full stop stop talking about it. And I think
that's where Klo I've got to go.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yeah, I agree. Hey, let's hear from Warren Moon. You
had a really interesting on the record discussion with him
at at the press conference, which I want to play
almost in its entirety now. Unfortunately you're not right up
the front with your mic. So I'm going to put
in your questions that you asked Warren Moon, and here
his responses. First of all, he was asked did he
think it was a red card?
Speaker 4 (13:37):
No?
Speaker 5 (13:37):
I thought that would have been harsh. I think just
because someone's put their foot on someone's back doesn't all
automatically make of the red card. If there was an
intent there and if it was malicious, maybe, but for
me it wasn't, and it's just the right outcome for me.
Was the other card mover?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
So straight away. Birds, you asked why he thought it
would have been harsh if it was a red card.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Because he's looking at the ball and when his next
foot needs to come down somewhere, he's not aware of
where he's putting his foot. If it was a stomp,
if it was malicious, I would say that it would
be a red card. But you know, I think we're
so quick to want to make a decision, Oh, that's
a red card when, in my opinion, when I saw it,
(14:18):
he's looking at the ball. He made a strong tackle.
Maybe that was a foul in the first instance from
him from the actual challenge, but he's still looking where
the ball goes, and his eye lines up, not down
at the player's back. And you know, if you look
at the way he put contact on him. He's a
big boy, Sam Costgrove, I think he'll be fine.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
So then you followed up Berge by saying, so you're
saying Warren that it wasn't intentional.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
I'm saying that if you look at the eyeline of
the player, he's looking at where the ball travels, and
he's looking at his next action and he's got to
put his foot somewhere now. If it's in his back.
It does happen. We can't automatically say just because someone's
put their foot in the back of someone, it's always
a red card. And that's my opinion. Now you might disagree.
That's fine, but that's my opinion.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
And to give you your due, Birch, you you asked
another follow up. You you asked Warren Moon whether he
thought they were lucky.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
Yeah, because you obviously feel it was a red card.
So and they know auckuldn't think it was a red card.
I didn't, but then again, I'm going to think that
obviously for my team, and they're going to think it
for them.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
It's not clear cut.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
It could be given, and if it was given, we
had started to warm someone up. So I can see
where you're coming from, because it's one of those ones.
If it was a clear stomp and we're saying, like
Sackles the week before didn't get a red card there,
then we would say, yeah, okay, it's on the fence
and you can consider yourself lucky. At times, I think
that one, if it was given, we would have been Okay,
it's harsh, but we move and we accept it. We've
(15:42):
got the lucky break tonight and we've we've obviously capitalized
from that because it would have been difficult to am
and it's in playing with ten men.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Look, let me tell you what I think. I think
it's a diffinite red card. I just don't understand how
it is not a red card. You talk about eye
line and whether he you know what he was looking at,
and it's not entirely clear on telling what he's looking at.
But he's got enough time to avoid Sam Cosgrove there,
he's aware that Sam Cosgrove is on the ground beneath him.
(16:11):
Put it this way, Berg, if it's a red card,
is there any argument? I mean, why a moon says there, Well,
we would have thought it was a bit harsh, But
if that's a red card, nobody goes, oh that's a
bit unfair, that's very harsh. I think it's a red card.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
It's inexplicable. I think it was quite hilarious too in
some ways, like he's got to put his foot somewhere,
as if sort of he was in Vietnam running through
the jungle with land mines all around him and the
only place to go was on Sam Cosgro's back. You know,
I mean, anyone who's played the sport at any level
(16:45):
knows that look, for a start, you don't always need
to look at the ground when you're running, you know,
and there's a thing called peripheral vision. He knew exactly
what he was doing, There's actually no doubt in my mind.
And so it was intention It was intentional. It wasn't
It wasn't a massive stomp, was it, you know, But
it was intentional, and so it's deliberate. So there's got
(17:08):
to be some consequences for that, and there basically was
no consequences. So I'm not really sure how the decision
came about. I don't know what you think. All I
could think about was the referee took a long time
and maybe he sort of over analyzed and overthought things
a bit.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Well. Tom Doyle on's Sideline in the Sky commentary was
sort of listening in and he made the point on
the commentary that what they were discussing was the eye line.
Where was James Donnahy looking when this all happened. I mean,
and I guess the suggestion is that if he was
looking down and could see Sam Cosgrove there, then that's
deliberate the fact that he had his eyes up is
(17:50):
some sort of mitigating factor. But as you say, peripheral
vision again, I just go back to it. If it's
given as a red cap art. I don't think there's
any argument at all that you can mount from a
you know, from a central coast mayor. On this point
of view, I reckon James Donahan knew he got away
with one.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Well, yeah, I mean there was a I don't know
if you saw that the cameras that had cut to
him after the decision, there was a bit of a
smirk on his face, you know, and like he seemed
to change his stride as well. You know, it wasn't
like if he came down off that challenge, which which
actually kind of elbowed or forearmed Cosgrove in the back
of the head as well. But he came down. It
wasn't like he was stumbling and falling and then he
(18:29):
had to regain his balance. He landed quite well, took off,
changed his stride. So yeah, there are you know, if
it was if it wasn't a quarter of law, there'd
be so many mitigating factors against James Donne here wouldn't
be funny.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, and you will you will not convince Danny Hay
and it wasn't a I mean that there is. There
is one hundred percent cast. I am sure about that
as they are that that ball in the semi final
against Victory last year didn't go out and gives you
m might crossed it. You know, that's just another one.
We'd chalk up another one too. That is the wrong decision. Look,
it is what it is. They played on Auckland I
(19:06):
think had enough chances to win the goal. That the
goal that the Marin has scored shortly after that red card.
Actually so I wonder whether there was I don't know
whether that was part of the overall equation, but Jay
Goodwood rights giving the ball up. You know, on halfway
Marin has played quickly, ali Ugla has finished well on
the far post. There's still plenty of time for Auckland
(19:29):
to get back. And then of course there's the rain delay.
Did I'm just trying to remember. Did did Auckland FC
have major momentum before the delay? Like, could you say,
for example, it really halted their momentum. Without the rain
delay they would have gone on and won the game.
I don't know. If I don't know, if you can
I think.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
It was the opposite. I think the rain delay at
the time, I was thinking the raindelay helped them because
they needed to they needed to reset. They were you know,
their minds were all over the place for a few
minutes after the red card and things were still a
bit messy. So I think the rain delay was good
because they could go and reset. They came back out,
had the what ten to fifteens for a halftime, and
then at the second half, so yeah, I mean they
(20:09):
had plenty of time to do something. And that's probably
the major issue out of the matches. They had. What
did they have? Well, Central Coast Gordon at the nineteenth minute,
so they had a long time to find an equalizer
and more. But it is a unavoidable fact that if
Central Coast got into ten men, which they should have,
it's going to be a different result. You know, Central
(20:30):
Coast is not going to hang on for a nil
nil with ten men. I just I think Danny Hay's
right in that situation. I just cannot see it. So,
you know, it sounds like Orgnif's his complaint will be
moaning because they had plenty of time, But in this case,
you can it's justified.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Yeah, I agree. I think it is justified. And yeah,
I mean nothing's going to happen. I mean they may
get a I'm sure Terry mcflin's going to ask for
a please explain from John Moss. They had a referees
and who knows, they might come out and say, yeah, actually,
on second look and with the you know, with the
benefit of having a relook at it, it is a
(21:07):
red card. But you know, Jonathan Barrero had a good
long look at it, didn't he He he had a
long long look at it. Anyway, he's not labor the point.
Red card not given. Auckland FC don't win the game
at home this season five wins, four draws and four losses,
so just five wins from thirteen home games this season.
(21:28):
They won eight at home last season, drew four and
lost just two. You know, the other thing that I
looked at last night was was the points in the
last five games. Newcastle have only got five points in
the last five games. They have given Auckland every opportunity
to capitalize on their stumble, and yet Auckland themselves only
have five points from the last five games. So you know,
(21:52):
it's the gap has stayed exactly the same in the
run in and here we are and now we've run
out of games. Auckland FC can't catch Newcastle anymore because
they haven't been able to pick up maximum points in
the last month.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
I found that a staggering stat when you sent this
through last night. And this is going to really hurt Auckland.
You know, they were so proud of what they did
last season again in the Premier's plate and it was
their big game to retain it. They had some wobbles
in January, but as you said, they will look back
on course, and I thought, I think a lot of
people thought, with their experience, with their pedigree, that that
(22:27):
was the most likely outcome. So and you know, to
lose it on the final weekend and some kind of
shootout where both teams are going through it and they
end up being eached by Newcastle was different. But to
give it up the week before without making Newcastle sweat
and losing at home in your last game of the season.
There are just so many painful elements to this one,
(22:49):
aren't they.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Yeah, there are and there are. And now instead of
looking ahead, which there's no point to doing anymore, because
you can't catch Newcastle with a four point lead and
only one game to go. All of a sudden, Auckland
FC are looking over their shoulders because while the top
six are locked in now, their table positions are not.
And Auckland FC, even though they're second going into the
(23:12):
final round and therefore have their destiny in their own hands,
they are by no means secure in the top six.
Newcastle forty five points their premiers. Auckland have forty one,
Adelaide have forty, Sydney FC have thirty eight, Melbourne City
have thirty eight, Melbourne Victory have thirty seven. Here's one
very simple way of looking at it. Birch Auckland are
(23:34):
away at Sydney on Sunday, Adelaide are away at Melbourne City.
If Auckland FC don't beat Sydney and Adelaide beat Melbourne City,
Adelaide will go past Auckland. Auckland will drop out of
the top two if they can't beat Sydney and Adelaide.
Bead and Adelaide beat Melbourne City and those two results
(23:55):
are not beyond the realms of possibility. If Sydney FC
would have beat Auckland by three or more goals, which
feels unlikely, but it's still a possibility Auckland could drop
down to fourth from being in the top two for
the majority of the season. They could find themselves having
to host any elimination final before they even start thinking
about home and away semis, where they would have the
(24:16):
disadvantage because they would be at home first.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Yeah, I mean, it's just it's amazing how things have changed.
I mean, for the last few weeks Orkan have seen
behind the scenes would have been planning the home and
way scenario and the week off and making all those
plans because they thought they were going to be there.
Everyone thought they were going to be there. They had
a handy buffer most of the time. Now it's going
to get really, really nervy. Like Sydney's see been up
(24:43):
and down, but it's not the place you want to
go on the last game of the season, when you're
out the form and battling and then you're worried about
about other results. I mean, or see that they thrive
on being underdogs, and they thrive not in the dogs,
but they thrive on these situations. Back to the wall
and I'm sure they'll come up with a good performance,
(25:04):
but there's so much at stake Now.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
It's not as though Sydney FC aren't aren't deeply motivated either.
If they win, Sydney FC, even if they can't go
past Auckland f C with the three goal margin, they
know that if they win, they finish in the top four,
so they will host an elimination final. That's all. That's
all the motivation they need is to, you know, is
to to win the game and host in week one
of the finals. They they may not end up in
(25:30):
the top two, but they can certainly ensure their place
in the top four. Adelaide United. I watched them yesterday
against MacArthur. They're irresistible force at the moment. I know
they were at home, but it would not be beyond
the realms of possibility that they would with the possible.
You know, if they know that that because by the
time they kick off, they'll know that that whether or
(25:54):
not they can make the top two. Imagine hearing just
before you go out, hey guys, Auckland f C have
drawn with Sydney or or lost to Sydney. Win this
game and we're top two. My goodness, imagine the shot
shot in the army you get by.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
That, I mean the other thing is Melbourne City is
not an intimidating team to play away. No, they're not
in Melbourn victory. They don't for whatever reason. There's various
things about what's happening with the fan base since Melbourne
Heart and all these other kinds of things. They don't
get big crowds at the moment, so it's it's a
great place to go, you know. And yeah, it's like
(26:31):
Aucle Left C. If you if we're talking about, oh,
they've got to go to Sydney and get a point,
you'd be like, okay, well that's not easy, but you'd
back them to get a point. But the reality is
a point may not be enough or probably won't be enough.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Not if Adelaide win, it won't be Yeah, a drawer
would would take Auckland to forty two points. Adelaide on
forty they would jump past them. Let's flip this though,
let's not catastrophize. Auckland Left C could go to Sydney
and win over there. They you know, they beat Sydney
FC at home this year one nil with the Sam
Cosgrove goal, the one all draw away. As you say,
(27:07):
Sydney FC haven't exactly been setting the world on fire
in the last little while. They've only got five points
from their last five games as well, so they're not
coming in red hot either. Look, Aukland f C could
well go. I mean that might be enough motivation for them.
They know that if they go to Sydney FC on
Sunday and win the game, they are in the top two.
So maybe after everything we've said, that's all that they're thinking.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
That's right, and they you know, there's still a very
good team away from home. In fact, they're much better
away from home for whatever mysterious vision. Well, I think
it's because they're essentially they like playing on the counter,
don't They know that that does suit them and it's
harder to do that at home. So yeah, they're good
(27:50):
away from home. It's still in their hands, isn't it.
It's still in their hands, but it's just way way
tighter than anyone would have been mentioned.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Yeah, and you're right, you land on a great point.
It is still in their hands. The others need Auckland
f C to stumble. Adelaide need Auckland f C to stumble.
The teams below Sydney FC obviously they're playing Auckland FC,
but Adelaide. If Auckland f C were to beat Sydney,
Adelaide can't catch them, So it is all in their hands.
Just going with the football match that has to be
(28:21):
that is surely that just has to be the message.
And I mean it's no different from any other game,
is it? But I don't know. I mean Sunday's mass
of five o'clock Auckland FC away at Sydney FC. Seven
o'clock Melbourne City will host Adelaide at Amy Park. What's
your gut telling you, Birch. Can Auckland FC get the
win and secure that top two spot at Alian's on Sunday?
Speaker 3 (28:42):
They can? They can, Yeah, they definitely can't. But I
can't lie. I'm a bit worried.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
We wait to see, We wait to see. Big week
coming up for Steve Kayriker and his players as they
contemplate the final round of the regular season.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
The Football Feaver Podcast with Jason Vine and Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Let's go back to Saturday in christ Church, Wellington Phoenix
two Western Sydney Wanderers won. That result at full time
kept the Phoenix's finals hopes alive for a couple of hours.
They were they snuffed out when Melbourne City beat Brisbane
in the following game, and so Wellington Phoenix's top six
hopes are now extinguished. Even given that, I thought it
(29:24):
was a good game. They played well, deserved to win.
I got a say Birch being down there, it was
a great occasion. They love their football in christ Church.
Eleven thousand turned up. That was the second highest home
crowd of the season for Wellington. I'd be taking a
game there every year if I was Wellington.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
I think you got to. I think you got to.
It looked fantastic, came across so well on television and
it's the bonus Look number one, they're start of devating
football down there, so you think they're going to turn up.
It's a way to build a fan base. But either
stadium you play it down there, you're going to be
(30:02):
playing in a much better stadium than when well at
to normally play. So yeah, a no brainer is to
take games south every year.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Yeah, I think So. Steve Rossis was there the head
or the chief executive of APL on Saturday. I know
was in Auckland yesterday as well, so doing his New
Zealand tour. Look if he looks around and thinks, you know,
if they're looking at more expansion in the A League,
you know christ Church is not off the table. I
don't reckon as I say, they love it down there,
good population based that got South Island United as a
bit of a tester in the Oceania Pro League. I
(30:34):
was just so impressed with the enthusiasm of those who
turned up, the noise they made. And to tell you what, Birds,
that's the other thing that ground. Much as it's been
a temporary home for teams in christ Church, if you
could pick up Apollo Project Stadium and drop it down
in Wellington, it would be perfect for the Phoenix. Twelve
(30:55):
to fifteen thousand rectangular, intimate, good playing surface, that would
be perfect in Wellington for the Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
It must have really reminded them what they're missing.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
You know.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
I don't always like to criticize Wellington Stadium, but you
know it's just not ideal for sports that need a
rectangular stadium. And yeah, that size, it just creates the atmosphere, right,
and that's what everyone wants at live sport. You go
along to be part of something, part of an atmosphere.
So the fans would have enjoyed it. The players would
(31:27):
have loved it. Yeah, it's it's the answer. But look,
if they keep going back there, at least that's something.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Indeed, indeed, if I is a bringing up double figure
goals for the season, nice passing move across from Tim
Payne and he nodded that, and Brandon Burrello pulled one
back for Western Sydney. I think the Phoenix will look
back at that and think they were a bit slow
to react to a short corner. Burrellos put it in
the corner. It's taken a touch off all away Am.
You couldn't keep it out. But then Kazuki Nagasawa scoring
(31:56):
what eventually turned out to be the winning goal from
another Tim Payne cross in a big say from Josh
Olawayomy near the end to keep it at two one.
I think they deserve to win the game. Western Sydney.
What a dumpster fire of a season for them, Burge,
I mean honestly, talk about me giving them the kiss
of death at the start of the season. Here's your premiers,
(32:17):
Western Sydney, here's your premieer is They've lost their last
four games, one game to go. They're five points behind
at the bottom. They for the first time in their
history have claimed the regular season Wooden Spoon, What what
a terrible season for the Wonder It's five wins from
twenty five games.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Yeah, I mean, you could say it's unravel but it's
much much, much, most worse than that. You know, it's
just been an absolute mess. Something's gone horribly wrong. Because,
as we've we've talked about so many times, you look
at the squad and you think there's plenty of good
players there. It's such a shame because they've been I'm
(32:59):
sure they're been such a good club and a great
team to watch.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Oh boy, oh boy, yeah, oh boy, oh boy. Indeed,
o Folk Talay's got work to do there. At least
he's got some runway. You know, he knows he's got
the team. He's probably at the moment working through the
players who are on contract or off contract and working
at who wants to keep where it needs to strengthen,
all that sort of thing. But man, for a club
with such a proud history and a massive catchment area
of fans and proud fans, when they turn up in numbers,
(33:27):
I know you know that they I'm sure disillusioned by
what's happened to their football club. Let's see what happens
when they come up again, or when they come around
again at the start of next season. Since Chris Greenacre
took over, loss drawer win win, win, loss, win, thirteen
points in seven games. Only Melbourne City have more points
(33:48):
in that seven game stretch than Wellington. So thirteen points
from seven games. In the twenty games before that, Wellington
collected just eighteen Sorry that in the eighteen games before that,
just twenty points. So the Greenacre effect is undisputed. I
mean they got to give him the job, right, I
mean it's the best job interview, the best audition, the
(34:09):
best dress rehearsal for the full time job he possibly
could have put together.
Speaker 3 (34:14):
Yeah, I mean he'll get the job, and then I
guess the pressure comes on more in your full time
because then you've got to really prove you you belong.
But he'll have an off season to make his decision
around players and off season to get his ideas into
the squad about what he wants. And I think everyone
(34:34):
in New Zealand football is as really happy for him
because he's been waiting a long long time. He's been
an assistant for so long and he's had a couple
of interim chances, so to finally get a chance, you
just you just like to see, don't. I always like
to see loyal club servants get a chance like this
(34:55):
and then take it, not because they deserve it, but
because they they get the chance, and then they prove
that they belong on merit.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
He's earned it, hasn't he? He's earned it. What else
could he have done apart from gett them into the six,
which you know, I mean they were already you know,
coming from a long way back, you know, to put
together the string of results that he has, I mean
the last five games, four wins in the last five. Ironically,
the lost in Melbourne City is probably what's going to
keep them out of the six, but you know, I
mean it's still a pretty good record. Speaking of club servants,
(35:27):
Alex Rufe picked up his eighth yellow card on the
weekend that initiates a ban. I think it's a two
game ban actually for eight yellow cards, So he'll miss
next week and probably the first game of next season.
Is there a scenario under which Alex Rufer has played
his last game for Wellington Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Yeah, I mean I've heard a bit of talk about that.
Over the weekend. I know that in some ways he would,
I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Well.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
I know he'd appreciate a fresh challenge and it can
reinvigorate you. He's been there a long long time and
he's been through a lot more bad times than good times.
But I'll put it to you. Can you see Alex
Rufer playing somewhere.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Else, not in the A League?
Speaker 3 (36:14):
I can't.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
It just feels like that would be you know. But
then having said that, you know Andrew Durante played two
d two hundred and seventy games and he turned up
at Western United to play against Phoenix. I think I
think they'll be suitors for him. Newcastle Jets were one
who were very keen on Alex Rufer. If reports are
to be believed, I think Alex Ruf is one of
(36:36):
the few players in the Phoenix squad currently who would
probably make every other A League side. I think he
probably he probably makes the Auckland FC side. Alex Rufer.
He's a very, very good A League footballer, so there's
no doubt that he'll have suitors. What I guess Phoenix
fans will be hoping that the relationship with Chris Greenacre
(36:57):
will be enough for Alex Rufer to decide that he
wants to be a one club man, that he wants
to stay at the Phoenix and achieve something that he
hasn't been able to. He came very very close a
couple of seasons ago, you know, leading the team to
you know, the cusp of the Grand Final, wasn't quite
able to get it done. I think if Chris Greenacre
can convince Alex Ruffer that there is a bright future
(37:20):
at the club over the next two or three seasons
under his watch, then I think Rufer would stay. I
know he's also had the for a while, has had
the thought in the back of his mind that perhaps
he might play up in Europe, in particular in Switzerland,
where his uncle Winton of course played with with such
you know, such quality. I think Shane might have even
(37:40):
spent some time up there as well, so maybe that's
that's something as well. He is off contract that that
that is beyond dispute. So yeah, I guess that if
you you know, want to put the cart before the horse,
I think, you know, you get Greenacre signed up and
then I think it's up to Chris Greenacher Creenacre to
convince Alex Ruffer to stay and I feel like he'd
be able to.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Yeah, I mean, he would just have to believe in
the Greenacre project. He'll have to believe that. The next
couple of years there's going to be a lot of
happy times because he's like, he'll want to play finals football,
you know, he won't want to be puddling around anymore
like a lot of these seasons recently where they're just
not in contention. He'll want to be playing in the
big games. And also this is probably his last big contract,
(38:23):
you know, so at his age, who want to make
the most of the fact that he is in demand. So, yeah,
there's a bit to think about. But he seems to
be so so attached to the Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Yeah, one hundred and eighty nine games for the club.
And it wasn't a straight line either. For the first
five seasons at the club, he hardly played you know,
I'm just looking at the stats now. In the first
season he played once, second season three times, four times
after that, three times after that, and only one start
for the club in his first four season in Wellington.
(39:01):
So it was so he was he was stalled on
the start line. It was only ready when Mark ru
Dan turned up in twenty eighteen nineteen that he said,
Alex Rufer, you are a starting player for me. Show
me what you've got, and he did and since then
he has been an absolute fixture in the side. Because
I'm thinking as well, it feels like Alex Rufer has
been twenty nine forever. He's still twenty nine thirty one?
(39:24):
So did I so did if you're Alex, Yeah, I
feel like I checked that when you said that, when
you saw at his age. Honestly, I seriously feel like
he's been twenty nine for about four years but doesn't
turn thirty until June, so maybe there is still, you know,
quite a bit of gas in the tank. But I
think most Phoenix fans would, if they had their preference,
want their captain to stay. He could go on and
(39:45):
he could beat Andrew Durante's club record of two hundred
and seventy odd games in the A League, you know,
if he stayed for another if he got another three
or four year deal or whatever, it might be so
and I think that would be fitting for him. He
almost certainly well, if he stays, he'll be the second
player to bring up to two one hundred games. But yeah,
I hope he stays. The Phoenix finished their season Friday
(40:05):
night away at MacArthur. A win would see them finish seventh.
A draw might also be enough to finish seventh of
Marins don't beat Newcastle on Saturday. I think given everything
we mentioned this last week, butch and we seventh, actually,
all things being equal, given where they were a month
and a half ago, might not be a bad outcome.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
If you're at this end of season function with the
seventh place, there'll be there'll be quite a few smiles,
you know. I really do think that it's a sort
of to go into the next season. You've got a
foundation compared to where they could have been compared to
the last season when they're having that bloody what was
it that playoff of death up in Darwin or somewhere
to get the chance to like, you know, don't have
(40:46):
to do that again. I mean, so, yeah, seventh is
very credible considering where they were.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Yep, I think that that will be the tenor of
the of the end of season function, which which is
actually next week. It's our next Tuesday, So yeah, get
along their burgeon. I'll let you know what the vibe
is like in the room. Just before we leave the Phoenix.
Just a quick word on a function I was lucky
enough to attend on Friday night in christ Church put
on by Center Circle. They do amazing work in the
(41:15):
christ Church community for grassroots football. Bobby Armond, the famous
All White, is their chair and I've got a wonderful
committee and they put together a function Friday night where
I think for the very first time on stage were
the three All Whites World Cup coaches John ed Said,
Ricky Herbert and Darren Baisley in a panel discussion. There
were also there was a chat with Bobby arm and
(41:37):
Steve Wooden and Ricky as players in that eighty two team,
Ben sigmund Aarren Clapham, Annalie Longo, we're up there. Then
Darren Beasley and Tony Reading's talking about twenty twenty six.
Well attended, good auction on the night. I just yeah,
one of those one of those really cool functions where
the football family came together and you talk about vibes.
(41:58):
Vibe in the room was great, Burg. It was a
a terrific night.
Speaker 3 (42:01):
Sounds amazing. Just a lineup Piney, I mean it's a
hell of a lineup and I can imagine there were
some great stories told as well.
Speaker 2 (42:09):
Absolutely some terrific stories told, some I hadn't heard before actually.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
Which were very good, which were very very good.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
Well done to Center Circle for the event.
Speaker 1 (42:19):
You put together good balls Beaver with Jason Paide and
Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Just finish on the Ninja A League elimination finals. We've
had this long sort of break. Now we've got the
elimination finals. Canberra United third place hosting Melbourne Victory sixth
on Saturday at four and then Saturday night at seven
Brisbane against Adelaide. Phoenix will face the highest ranked winner
in their home and away semis. So if Canberra win,
it'll be them who the Phoenix play. If Canberra were
(42:46):
to lose to victory, then the Phoenix will face the
winner of Brisbane against Adelaide. And I heard over the
weekend Birch we can lock in Pott into a park
Sunday May tenth at two point thirty in the afternoon
for the home leg of that semi. So so that's
one to put a ring around and hopefully they can
make a cauldron of pottydoor park. Similarly to the way
(43:09):
that we saw christ Church turn out on the weekend
for the men Rectangular. Put some extra sipts in, get
four thousand in there. It'll be a great place to
welcome a team too for the home league of a semi,
wouldn't it.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
It would And they've got that timing spot on. We
talked about the possible timing a couple of weeks ago
and we're sort of analyzing what it could be given
the Australian audience, given this, given that the travel times
for fans, everything, and I think two thirty is just
right because you've also haven't got the lights to have
you so an afternoon finals game just doesn't any better
(43:44):
than that, It really doesn't.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
No, it'll be it'll be terrific. And yeah, they do
have to have the early start just in case it
goes to extra time and possibly penalties. Yeah, they have
to have enough light to allow that to happen. So
there you go, Phoenix fans, two thirty Sunday, the tenth
of Man. Expect that to be made official in the
next little while. But that's the word I got over
the weekend that that will be the day of the
(44:06):
home semi against one of the teams that comes through
from the elimination finals. This weekend So this weekend in
terms of the New Zealand sides. Seven o'clock Friday night
Wellington Phoenix finished their season away at MacArthur. Then Sunday,
a massive Sunday incoming Auckland FC, Sydney FC and then
Melbourne City Adelaide, and then we'll have the top six.
(44:30):
Call it birge our, Auckland f C. A top two
side or not.
Speaker 3 (44:35):
Yes, they will stay there. It'll be nervous, tight, tense,
everything you want, but they'll find a way to stay
on top two.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
I tend to agree. I tend to agree that's what
I'm expecting as well. Whatever happens, we're back with a
reaction to it and a review of the weekend next
Monday on Football Fever
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