December 8, 2024 • 37 mins
Piney and Bonnie review the massive, sold-out A-League derby between Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix on Saturday at Go Media Stadium with the home side keeping their perfect winning record intact.
Meantime, the Wellington Phoenix women have beaten highly-fancied Brisbane 2-1, and Chris Wood (inevitably) and Libby Cacace (surprisingly) are in goalscoring action in Europe.
Football Fever with Jason Pine & Bonnie Jansen is the weekly podcast to keep up with all the action from the beautiful game!
Our voice of football Jason Pine and sport journalist Bonnie Jansen follow the Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC on their quest for an A-League title - all the goals, all the drama, all the glory!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Football Fever with newstalksb's voice of Football, Jason Payne and
Bonny Jansen. Hello there, Back at our regular Monday spot
we go for Football Fever with FIFA Plus stream New
Zealand football live and free on FIFA plus dot com.
I'm Jason Pine. Bonnie Jensen's here too. We couldn't wait
till Thursday to unpack the action on and off the
field on Saturday at the Derby, Bonnie, could we How
(00:23):
are you.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
What a weekend? Piney? You honestly can't beat it. You know, like,
I've never been to watch a Premier League game in England,
but I was like, you know, I assume that that
would be pretty pretty top tier and I just felt
Saturday was so so impressive and you know, Auckland came
out on top. But I think regardless, there's plenty to
be proud of and Kiwi.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Football indeed, yeah, unprecedented as far as the occasion was concerned,
from what I could see. Let's start with the off
field stuff. For Darby two point I Walkland FC Wellington
Phoenix at go Media Stadium Saturday, the atmosphere pre game.
That was the first chance I've had to be at
Lily World, which is the bar basically adjacent to the
stadium where the port and anybody who supports anybody who's
(01:08):
playing can gather. It was just incredible. It was like
being in a South American country or a European country,
or outside a Premier League ground. Just the energy and
the noise amazing.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Just incredible. I completely agree, and I actually have FOMO
and I'm a bit envious of the fans because I'm
there having to work, and I'm just I just you know,
all these fans are sitting there and enjoying a beer
and you know, just like chanting away and the hype
is real, and you know, for that to be happening
well before kickoff, yeah, just incredible. Evens caught up with
(01:43):
the people tailgating, the tailgating community that are doing it
out the front of the stadium, and the car park
that had been there for hours before kickoff. It's yeah,
it was really awesome. And I think as well caught
up with Wellington Phoenix fans and yes, obviously the Auckland
and their rivals, but I think they were equally impressed
(02:04):
with what a show and what an occasion has put
on here by Auckland.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Well, every every Phoenix fan I spoke too, said exactly
the same thing, because every other time they've come to Auckland,
they've been part of the home crowd, right because all
the games up in Auckland have been Wellington Phoenix home games,
and those who have traveled over to Australia to watch
the Phoenix play. I don't know that they would have
got anything like that sort of experience at any of
those games. But I love seeing, you know, you know,
(02:31):
little pockets of yellow shirts dotted in and amongst all
the black and blue, and there was so much black
and blue man merchandise. Sales must be through the roof.
But there was. But there was no nastiness about it.
There was no there was no ad grow There was
good natured banter, of course there was. I even got
called out a couple of times. But I loved it.
I absolutely loved it. You know, there were so many
(02:52):
parts of it. I loved the key core of the port.
You know, there was a guy there with the megaphone
yelling out the chants, and so everybody was at the
bar basically would have learnt the chance. So when during
the game those chants began, people knew what to say.
They knew the words. I just you know, I saw.
I don't know whether this is a good or bad thing,
but Wayne Brown, the Mayor of Auckland, bouncing up and
(03:15):
down in the middle of the bar with his blue
and back shirt on.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
It was just mental brilliant. It is. It's really cool,
I think. I think, what's so cool is it? It's
become a real fad, Like it's a it's a cool
thing to be following this team, and it's it's such
a trend. You know, a lot of my mates are
going down and they're wanting to get the merch and
you know that they want to be part of it
all summer long. And I think your hats off to
(03:40):
this this new team. The marketing has been impeccable and
I've created that that hype. It's yeah, it's just as
you say, unprecedented. Yeah, really really impressed. And I can't
wait till I have a game where I'm not needing
to work and can go on sit down in Lily
World before the match.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Well, I'm sure that will happen. I'm sure that will
happen at some stage. I think that RB might we
needed you to be on the tools for such a
big occasion, but I'm sure we get the opportunity at
some stage. And in the march down the stairs, it's
just so cool having that bar so close as a
gathering point. I mean, you don't have to you don't
have to go in there and you know, have a
beer or have a drink or whatever. But that's the
(04:17):
meeting point, isn't it. And ever one march down the
stairs it was I just I just thought it was sensational.
The atmosphere created terrific. So on the field, Hierarchi Sarki
back for Auckland f C. That was that proved to
be a huge in for Auckland f C because I
thought he was the best player out there. Tim Payne,
Sam Sutton back for Wellington Phoenix. Louis Vus Strata often
(04:41):
jed in the first half when that happened, How worried
were you given the fact that he has been so crucial,
so integral to this team.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, I mean I found a bit of confidence for
Auckland f C knowing it was cam Houson coming on
and he's, you know, a really good solid player and
a leader to some degree as well. So I wasn't
too worried in that respect, but I did notice just
the presence of Louis Vastrata missing after he went off.
(05:11):
You know, he's he's been standout for this team, as
you say, and you could definitely notice when he wasn't
on the field like you could the week before when
Hiroki Sakai wasn't there.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
How good was Sakai? How good is he? What a player?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
He's so good and that you know that that own
goal obviously, it's like it was kind of almost a
carmon copy of what happened in their first game. And
he's so smart and just yeah, I really rate him.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah, he was the architect of the opening goal. Phoenix
haven't considered a first half goal all season, or I
hadn't up until then. In fact, before Saturday, the three
goals that conceded had all been after the seventy fifth minute,
so they'd been water tight for you know, five sixths
of every game. But yeah, across it came from from Sakai.
This one was an aerial delivery, competed to the one
(05:58):
against Bruceblyne that was along the deck. Either way, the
result was the same. Isaac Hughes couldn't head it away.
It was just coming too quickly. There was a man
behind him, Liam Gillian. I think who would have turned
the ball and if Hughes hadn't so yeah, one Bill.
It was funnily enough. It came just as I actually
thought Wellington was starting to grow into the game with
for Strata having gone. It felt to me as though
(06:20):
Cam Howison, yes good as he was, took a little
bit of time to get into the game when he arrived,
because you don't expect to arrive in the twentieth minute,
really do you? And I just thought Wellington were getting
some ascendancy, but when Auckland scored, it just changed the
complexion of things almost instantly. Nando Pineke's goal on the
seventy minute mark, what did you make of that in
terms of I mean again Sarkuai with a delivery. What
(06:42):
did you make of Josh olloway Emi coming for that
and then changing his mind?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Yeah, it wasn't a good goalkeeping decision at all. Yeah,
I was worried for Josh holloway Emy. Even his first
touch of the game was you could tell he was
nervous after what happened last time. I think, you know,
I don't know if he lacks confidence clearly, maybe a
(07:08):
bit indecisive, but yeah, I yeah, not a good goalkeeping decision,
but good on Nando. He was in the right position
to finish it off.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Yeah, he didn't get a lot of protection at the
far post, Josh Elloemi, you know, the players jumping for
the ball with Nando Pineker. You know, I think could
have done better. But yeah, no, you've got to give
it to Nando. You know, he hadn't scored a lot
of goals before he got to Walkland. Now he's got
two in six games. He must be absolutely loving it.
And it gave them the buffer Auckland FC. But then
(07:37):
in the eighty second minute, Costa Barbarusis with a goal
for Wellington five one hundred and thirty two minutes Auckland
without conceding. Then Costa scored the goal. It's set up
a really exciting finish.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah. Did they got the momentum And I you know,
I said on the podcast last week, I wanted the
Phoenix to win, or I wanted to a draw at
least just for the narrative. And I was kind of
hoping towards the end of that game they would get
another and it would end into all and how fun
that would have been for the fans, you know, to
have four goals in that game, but obviously wasn't to be.
(08:11):
I think the Phoenix can, you know, kind of hold
their heads high though with the performance. I think they, Yeah,
they don't go for it as much. I don't think
they take as many risks as Auckland too. As Auckland
f C do. You can kind of see that as
given on the stat sheet. You know, Auckland had far
(08:32):
more shots on goal. But yeah, they're not a bad side,
the Phoenix, and I don't think anyone will be ruling
them out.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Yeah, I think the stats show that chief ye is
all about efficiency when it comes to the attacking third. Yeah,
the shots stat Auckland had twenty shots, Wellington had six,
so then itself shows you that, you know, Auckland fired
off over three times as many. But in terms of
shots on target, Wellington had three on target and Auckland
(09:02):
had four on targets, so four out of twenty compared
to three out of six. The efficiency of getting shots
on target is much much high for Wellington. So but
then you think to yourself, well, imagine if they had
twice as many shots at goal.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Yeah, exactly, and they shared the position. The position was
fifty fifty percent each across the match. So you know,
Wellington have the ball, they just need to be creating
more opportunities. And you know, obviously cost is clinical when
he needs to be like, let's get him on the
ball war and let's create more opportunities. So I'm not
(09:36):
the coach, but I do wonder if maybe that's what
they'll be looking to do, looking to work on, you know,
going forward.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Yeah, I thought Marco rohas made an impact when he
came on. It was great to see him. As I
understand it, he's getting closer and closer to being able
to start matches. So I think once Marco Rohass is
in the starting eleven, you'll see a bit more in
terms of the creativity in the front third. I really
want to see Wellington go back to a back four
as well from here. I you know, the way they
played it on the weekend with with Sheridan and pain
(10:04):
Hughes wooton I'm forgetting somebody here but Sutton. Yeah, yeah,
So the way they played it with the back five
and then for some inexplicable reason, Tim Payne became a
striker in the second half just I guess to match
the physicality up top with Pineker and Dan Hall. But
I just really want to see them go back to
(10:25):
a back four of Pain Wooton, Hughes, Sutton with Rufa
and Retroy sitting in front and then four attacking players
the way that they did it last year. I know
the personnel's different, but they could, for argument's sake, go
with a front four of Aeshiga Barbarusis Nagasawa and Rojas
or Stefan Kolakowski. I would just like them to, like
(10:46):
to see them be a bit more bold and play
with four. You know, it's really a four to three
to three depending on which way you want to look
at it. But one of the midfield three has an
attacking brief, like in Nagasawa for example.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yeah, I like it, and that'll, you know, only help
them create more opportunities up the top and yet use
that position to actually get something from it. So I
don't mind it. Piney look at you.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Go, well, I mean I just I think, do.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
You watch do you watch football or something? Well, it's
luck you. It's like, yeah, so you're a football commentator.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Well, I've watched the odd match most but a lot
of some people some people think that doesn't qualify me
any more than anybody else to have an opinion, which
I think is right. We all watch the game, we
all see it in different ways. You know, Chief sees
it in a different way than I see it. Then
you see it than Steve Coriker sees it. That's the
beauty of it. It'll be a bit boring if we
all had the same view and the same sort of
global outlook as far as football is concerned. And you're
(11:38):
right they are a good team. They'll be there or
thereabouts in the six. But the fact is after six
games they've lost two, both of them though to Auckland.
You know, on their travels they've been good. Apart from
the weekend they've they've won all three of their games
in Australia. I think they'll still be there or thereabouts
when the playoff positions are decided. This was quite a
spicy match at times, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
It was a spicy match. And just going back to
your last point, Peney, I think the Phoenix are good
and how good it is that both teams are competitive,
you know, it would have sucked if if you know,
the Phoenix came up to Auckland this weekend and you know,
got thrashed three or four nil, and it just wasn't
like that. And I don't think it's either going to
be between these two teams just given the rivalry. But
(12:24):
you're really really glad they're competitive in terms of the
spice of the match. So Alex Paulson three times in
the first half, Oh, that was so stressing me out
right in front of the port as well. At first
I was like, okay, guys, come on like that. They
were terrible tackles on Ap and yeah, I was just like,
oh my gosh. But then by the third one, I
(12:45):
was like, okay, it's Ap milking this now, like it's
becoming a bit of a joke.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I thought the one I thought cost As one was
actually and I said this in commentary because Jacob Spoonley,
being the goalkeeper that he is, was trying to say
it was a bad challenge by Costa, But I sort
of wonder where cost is supposed to go in a
situation like that, you know, he was the balls plut
was sort of headed on, lobbed through Paulson comes out
to get it. Cost Us sort of looking at the
ball and then all of a sudden he's right there
and he's he kind of runs into Pauls and I
(13:10):
guess you could look at it in a different way.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Nobody left his league there.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Oh, that was in the second half. That was in
the second half. Which one are you talking about when.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
It was down in front of the in front of
the port.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yeah, no, no, well they jumped, they jumped together.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
They jumped together, but then his leg was kind of
like left out sideways. I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Okay, well, yeah, maybe you saw it again, maybe we
saw it differently, but yeah, like it was it just
it created the storyline that may or may not have
even been a storyline that you know, Wellington Phoenix's former
keeper was being targeted by his former teammates. There was
one in the second half we cost the left a
foot and when when Paulson cleared it and he was
given a yellow car for that, rightly, so I thought.
(13:50):
The other one, obviously, was the Alex Rufe for Louis
Toomey coming together, where you know, Louis kind of fell
on the ball and and Rufer just started to try
and kick it. Out from under him over vigorously. Steve
Coricle was having absolute kittens on the sideline, you know,
(14:11):
and Rufin knew exactly what he was doing. I thought,
though I heard Louis too, you interviewed afterwards and he said,
I think Rufa left went on me, but I probably
deserved it. I thought that was quite good from him.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Yeah, no, it's good. Louis would have been up for
for the banter knowing him, but yeah, it was. It was,
I reckon, a real shame from from Alex Rufer. It's
just yeah, too hot headed and you know, probably not
leading by example as the skipper when there's a lot
of young fans out there watching. But yeah, it was
certainly again created this narrative. What I also liked, going
(14:43):
back to ap was that early in the game or
every time he touched the ball, all the Auckland FC
fans cheered really loudly, and I thought that was Yeah,
that was a nice note as well.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Yeah, I think I was trying to drown out the
booze that were coming from the yellow fever. Oh, by
the way, I must say, great traveling support. Yes, they
you know much as the result went against them. You know,
they chanted and cheered and did everything that in away
team supporters should do. Uh and it was good to
see such huge numbers there. I thought they were They
were good too, and as I say, the banter was
(15:14):
was really good between the between the two there was
a bit of spice off the field as well in
the In the postmatch, both coaches were asked about the
you know, the relationship between the two sides, the rivalry
which is quickly built. During the week, John calo Ataliano
had done a media conference. This was either on the
Thursday or the Friday, where he had said that he
(15:37):
thought that Auckland f C had been lucky in the
first five games of the season and he thought that
they were vulnerable there for the taking words to that effect.
He was asked about those comments afterwards and whether he
regretted saying those words to add some fuel to this fire.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
You told me, in what league in the world a
team gets five out of six home games? For me,
I don't know. If you want to call it luck,
you want to call Paul planning, you want to call
a gift, you can call it whatever you want. I
think that was the point I was shoting to make,
and I stick to it. I mean, I asked you,
do you think it's fair that a team has five
out of six games at home as the start of
(16:16):
the season, or if you can count to me, what
team has had that opportunity. That was the point I
was shoying to make and I.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
Stick by that.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Again. They beat us on the park. There's no luck
about that. They deserve to win. That's I'd never ever
say that. But there is an advantage when you play
five out of six games you don't travel. We went
to Perth, played Central Coast, which is an extra day.
We played in Sydney. They've had one trip, which in
fairness they did win. But again, when you start going
(16:45):
through you know the rigmarole of going home in a
way it does you know, it can be quite taxing.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
So that's gian Callo a Taliano. Here is Steve Coriker.
This is the order in which the priest conferences were done.
Gian Callo Italiana was first, so we heard say that first.
It was put back to Steve Kriker about the comments
and whether they had an impact on the team and
what he made of the comments by jian Callotelliano.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Yeah, I'm a little bit disappointed, to be honest with you.
With Chief, you mentioned a couple of things in the
media which you know, a little bit disrespectful to our team.
You know that they were there for the taking. We've
been lucky. We haven't been lucky. You know, you need
a little bit of luck obviously to win games. But
we won all six, so you know, you don't get
(17:29):
lucky by by doing that. There's you know, the process
you have to go through. Obviously we've had a few
home games early on, but at the back end of
the season we still have to play the same amount
of games away from homes. And I don't make the rules,
don't I don't do the draws. So obviously you know
(17:49):
we were the better team. And you know I use
that in motivation for the boys as well, because it helps. Helps.
Every little inch helps in derby games. Pinned up on
the wall to make sure all the players saw it,
because you know, we haven't been lucky. We've we've been
working hard for for these wins. We've been playing good football.
You know, it's probably a little bit out of it
(18:12):
wasn't necessary needed. You know, I think they're they're a
good football team. We respect them, you know, I think
he needs to sharre little bit more respect for us.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
What do you make of all of that?
Speaker 2 (18:23):
I completely agree with with Chief. Ye, I think they
have had a very very lucky draw to start off
their their campaign. You know, going back to the Wellington
Phoenix women last season, they had heaps of away games
to begin with and that absolutely screwed them. But yeah,
(18:45):
just I like how Steve Kroker responded in terms of
putting it up on the wall, using it as ammunition
and yeah, kind of letting the letting the football talk.
But I think Chief he you know, had a place
to say and I'm kind of glad he got a
bit fired up because I felt like we would get it.
It was a bit lackluster, you know, out of the
(19:07):
Phoenix camp and them hyping up this rivalry. I feel
like it's more come from the Auckland fans, the Auckland
team and supporters.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, I think he's absolutely got a point as well.
You know, the maths would say that in the first
six games of the season, for Auckland f C. To
only have to go to Australia once and not even
have to go to an away game as such, because
it was unite round when everybody was in Sydney. They
haven't had to go to the away ground of any
team apart from not in Australia anyway. Wellington, yes, of course,
(19:35):
and they negotiated that they won that, but they haven't
had to go to an away Australian ground yet. But
like Steve Corik has said, he doesn't make the drawer,
he doesn't make the rules. They're presented with the draw
and he's dead right back into the season, Bonnie. Five
of their last eight games are away from March mid
(19:55):
March to the end of the season in early May.
They've got to go to Newcastle, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne Victory
and Western United and they only have three games at
home in that time. So it's all swings and roundabouts things. Yeah,
things even themselves out across the season in a twenty
six game season. Yeah, thirteen games at home and thirteen
games away and you know, but what it has done
(20:16):
is given them a very comfortable launching pad. But they've
still had to take advantage of that launching pad.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Yeah for sure. No, you're absolutely right, and yeah, times
are going to be tested when they go and play
over in Melbourne. You know, from this weekend, So yeah,
looking forward, I am intrigued as well. You know, it's
obviously helped with the hype and the momentum, and I'm
just intrigued to see if they'll be able to continue this.
You know, so far, so good six games in, but yeah,
(20:45):
who knows what's going to happen.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Well, let's have a look at their next few fixtures.
They've got Melbourne City away on Sunday, which is going
to be a difficult game. Melbourne City are playing really
really well. They dealt to Brisbane on the weekend, not
that that is much of a high bar because Brisbane
have been pretty poor the season. But then they have
Western United at home just before Christmas, and then the
Mariner is away between Christmas and New Year, so that's
(21:07):
not on the on a three game swing, that's not,
I guess, really really hard. But then you come to January.
Here is January schedule for Auckland FC. Melbourne victory at home.
That's Auckland's home game on New Year's Day. Then they've
got to go to Perth, the longest away trip they'll have,
back home for a game against Melbourne City and then
(21:28):
a way to Adelaide and Western Sydney Wanderers. That is
a tough January. I think by the end of January
we'll have an idea on what you're talking about, whether
they can continue it on or not, whether they are
the real deal.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
No, one hundred percent, And I hope I hope they
are because I want this to continue. I want, you know,
Auckland f Seed and the Wellington Phoenix to stay up
near the top of the table. It's just making this
whole narrative so much better. But I am, you know,
a little bit worried that is it too good to
be true? We'll soon find out.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Well, I guess they can only plage game, aren't they?
Six from six? Here they are top of the table
eighteen points, Wellington Phoenix a fifth on ten points, just
on the crowd twenty five two hundred and fifty three
clearly a made up number because because well, I mean
they said during the week, they said during the week
that at full capacity we can get to twenty five. Sorry,
(22:21):
twenty six was twenty six, wasn't it? Twenty six two
five three, which is exactly one more person than the
twenty six two five two who were there in Wellington
for the first Derby. Right, that's what turned up for
the first Derby twenty six two five two. They said,
during the week we've opened up extra seats and if
everybody comes twenty six two five three, Bonnie, come on.
(22:42):
There were empty seats there.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Well, there were empty seats pinting, but there were a
lot of full seats. And I took a photo of
the other of the stand which you would have been in,
so you wouldn't have really been able to see it, right,
but you would have been able to see the stand
that I was in. But there were so many people
on the on the bank, on both sides, on the
south and north stands.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
But if it only sold, if they've only sold twenty six,
two hundred and fifty three tickets and there are empty seats,
then how can there have been two thousand.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
Of people move from their seats to the banks, is
what I'm trying to say. Think about the think about
like that all the all the game entertainment they had
going on in and around the stadium, Like I don't
think people were seated in their seats the whole game.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Well, I guess we'll have to disagree on this, but again,
it's a nice little piece of banter. What it's done
as well is boosted Auckland's first four home games attendance
to seventy eight one and thirty six. That's their first
four games. Do you know that is more than the
New Zealand Knights got across their entire two seasons of
(23:50):
existence in just four games.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
That's crazy. But yeah, I just can't believe you've found
that yet another just fantastic stat Piny wasn't mine.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
I can't claim it was. I was handed that one,
but it is. It does show just the night and
day between Auckland f C and the New Zealand Knights
of two thousand and five, six seven, just you know,
just night and day. A couple of other things. Hamoush
curded the coin toss our Olympic high jump champion, adding
a bit of glitz and glamour. You sent me a
(24:21):
message unless it was a TYPEO. Was there a barber
in the corporate area?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Yes, there was a barber in the corporate area. I
was honestly like, this is so Auckland f C. Like
they've just honestly just gone above and beyond it so America.
You know, it was in the Black Night Lounge and
they had a full I think it was sponsored by Heineken,
and they had a barber, people lining up to have
a little fresh, fresh trim before kickoff, and yeah, just
(24:51):
like it was a whole spectacle. And then in the year,
this big bang and these fireworks are going off, and
then year, you know, you hear the crowd cheering as
three skydivers are coming in with the ball, Like I
was just like, oh my gosh, this is so excessive.
But yeah, brilliant, you know, brilliant in game entertainment for sure.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Yep, they've nailed that for sure. And even a barber
in the corporate area, you know that's a talking point.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Yeah, it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Yeah, well people getting their hair cut.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Yeah, people were. They were sitting on there and I
was like, I could have done with a little trim.
But I'm not sure if that barbers do girls here.
Maybe they do. But to guess who I was sitting
next to Piney in the corporate.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Area, I won't be able to guess. Was it someone famous?
Speaker 2 (25:30):
It was someone famous?
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Was it has no?
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Okay, I got I got very nervous. It was Dan Carter,
Dan Carter, he was he I was sitting there by
myself in the kind of corporate area seats where it's
people just can kind of sit wherever. And then I
was sitting on a solo chair and there were about
four seats next to me, and he comes up behind
me and goes, hey, are these seats taken? And I
just like froze. I was like, sorry, pardon. I was like, no,
(25:57):
you sit there. So he sat like literally right next
to me in the seat for the whole first half.
And as I've said, I've controversially said I was going
for the Phoenix on Saturday, so I was like cheering
for them, and then I had to but I was
like trying to contain myself because I didn't want him
to hate me because he was going for Auckland. O
spoiler alert, So Dan Carter, if you're listening to this podcast, sorry,
(26:19):
I was really shy and didn't say hi.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
I'm sure it wouldn't have been the first time that
somebody was starstrike sitting next to next to Dan Carter.
But again, yeah, the celebrities are out in force to
watch this team play. So Auckland f c away at
Melbourne City on Sunday. Melbourne City a fourth that'll be
a good game actually, and the Wellington Phoenix about it.
Back home, they'll lick their wounds, pick themselves up, dust
themselves off and host eighth place to MacArthur. That is
(26:45):
on Saturday afternoon at five o'clock at Sky Stadium Football
Fever with Jason Vine and Bonnie Jess And following that,
the Wellington Phoenix women had a game yesterday Sunday at
Pottdoor Park in the Ninja A league came to town
and Brisbane were going really well. They lost their first
game to Canberra, but then won their next three without
(27:05):
conceding a goal. Second on the table. The Phoenix beat
them to one. This is a very very very good result.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Oh, stoked for Stoked for the Phoenix, really solid result
particularly you know they went up one now then they
can conceded another and they you know, stayed in the game.
And Annalie Longo to you know, just take charge steady
of the ship as a skipper. Very very impressed. And yes,
you know Brisbane Raw were missing their two best players
(27:33):
to make Yellock Yellop and Sean Fryer who were offered
the Matildas. But yes, so bloody brilliant to get the
job done.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Absolutely, andally Longo back. She had that really nasty bang
on the face against Newcastle which saw her miss the
game against Adelaide last weekend. Came back a couple of goals,
maybe a touch of fortune with the second one with
the Brisbane goalkeeper kind of misjudging the shot, which I'm
sure if Anale Longo was honest, she'd say she didn't
hit as perfectly as she would have liked, but it
(28:03):
went in, as did her goal in the first half.
She said afterwards it was nice to be in the
headlines for the right reasons rather than try to get
her dog off the field.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Yes, seriously, she's been in the headlines for a few
different things, obviously with that injury in the dog. So yeah,
it was. It was awesome and I think that's you know,
that's kind of like Heroki is like with AFC. She
shows leadership through football and yeah, very.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Very good indeed. Yeh. So Phoenix scored first, but has
been leveled up just before halftime. Then anally Longo scored
the winning goal in the second half. We've got our
first look at new US center back Olivia Kelly. She
came on at halftime. Looks to be a good acquisition
Grace Jarley. Only the last fifteen minutes she hasn't quite
found her feet and fired her best shots on her
return to Phoenix, she'd has she Grace.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Yeah, it is interesting and I am intrigued to hear
if maybe she's carrying a little niggle or an injury.
But clearly Paul Temp's Temple just wanted to try something new,
and yeah, I don't think you know this is going
to be a long term thing, Grace Jarlie on the bench,
even saying with Emma Maine, I think once they find
(29:08):
how to unlock those two forwards, you know they'll be
really lethal. But for now it's obviously not working. And
I don't mind Paul Temple making a big call at that.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Well, I mean, Grace Jarlie is not a bad play
aff coming off the bench either to change your game
if that's what they see her best uses at the moment.
So she came on at the end. Wellington Phoenix up
to seventh. So after three straight losses, two straight wins,
they've got second placed Melbourne victory away on Friday night.
That's tough short turn around two from Sunday to Friday.
(29:39):
Claudia bunge. Of course back at Melbourne victory. How do
you assess their chances of getting something out of that game?
Speaker 2 (29:45):
It will be tough, it will be really tough. I
just hope it's a close, competitive game and I think
they can you know, even if they don't get the result,
they can come away happy. Yeah. I just like it's
great to see, you know, as you just said, seventh
on the table. I hope you know, they can keep
going now with this momentum finally after a couple of
(30:07):
alright results. Yeah, things should maybe play in their play
in their favor a little bit more.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
And there was a celebrity at that game as well,
not Dan Carter, but I think Macy Fraser was there.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Macy Fraser. Yeah, they saw that that photo of her.
That is very intriguing. I mean it is the off
season in the nws L. We know that she didn't
play basically since the Olympics, so I don't think she
did play at all for Utah Royals. Maybe she you know,
wasn't wasn't for her over there, and I mean she
(30:40):
obviously played great for the Wellington Phoenix and that's where
she you know, enjoyed her football. So maybe it's not
a bad thing for her to come back.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Well, I'm with wait and see on that, whether in
fact you know it would be a good move for
the player or for the club. Who knows. You know,
it's there's, there's, there's never a perfect fit anywhere. I
don't and I'd love to see her go back to
Utah really make a good, good go at it. You know,
she's such a talented player, and when she got that move,
there was such high excitement. And even when she played
(31:10):
a couple of games, she didn't really look out of place,
did she. She looked okay at that level, Oh, she looked.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Great, and she was so good on and off the ball,
and even you know, with a few opportunities with the
football ferns, she again looks really good. I just think
she needs to to find what works for her. Obviously,
you know, she's carrying some injuries and for whatever reason,
(31:36):
she didn't play the second half of the season in
Utah Royals. But I just hope she can find it,
because she would be. She's too good of a player
not to be playing football.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
Really, hang on, that's it on a nutshell. She's far
too good to be watching games of football. Rather than
be playing in games of football. It's hope for some
positive news on the Macy Fraser front in twenty twenty five.
This is football fever. It's finished with keep's overseas. Would
another goal a significant goal? This one on his thirty
third birthday for Nottingham Forest in a three to two
(32:06):
victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Now the last
time that Nottingham Forest won at Old Trafford. Chris Wood
had just turned three years old, so it was thirty
years since they'd last done it. He is now Nottingham
Forest's all time leading Premier League goal scorer. You kind
of run out of ways to explain just how significant
(32:27):
this is and how well Chris Wood is going, and
how much he has loved in that club and helping
them to stay up in the top half of the table.
I think their fifth or sixth after the latest round
of matches. He's just doing amazing. Libby Cacaci got his
first goal for Empeli this morning in a four one
away when at Verona. That's his first goal since twenty
(32:48):
twenty two when he scored for the All Whites, his
first club goal since he scored for the Phoenix against
the Mariners back in March of twenty twenty. He's had
a number of goals ruled out for offside or a
foul or whatever for em police, so to see him
finally get his first one was really call. There's some
great pictures of him celebrating with his teammates this morning,
and he like just is playing really well for Saint
(33:10):
Poulton in Austria. He scored the winner in their latest
game and has been a big part of them winning
four games in a row. What about our women around
the place?
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Yeah, vick Erson, you're not going to believe this, Piney,
because I suddenly didn't played in goal for Rangers against
West Dyke in the Scottish Cup. They won twenty four.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
One, twenty four one.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
I just don't like, I don't believe it. But how
does she concede?
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Well, I just that's exactly what I was thinking.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
I'm going to go back and watch the highlights.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Twenty four one. Maybe she just lost concentration for a
milli second. I wonder what the score was when West
Dyke got their goal. Was it would it have been
like one all or two to one or maybe it
was they scored first well, who knows, maybe Rangers had
to come from one nil down to win twenty four
to one.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Goodness was crazy. And Hannah Blake and Mickey Foster that
both started for Durham FC in the Women's FA Cup
and had a big one well one there went over
Birmingham who are won ahead of them in the Women's Championship,
so I think those two teams are going to be
rivals all season.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Good stuff. Great to see Mickey Foster in particular kicking
on from her time at Wellington Phoenix. So just finally
this week the news that Auckland City FC, who are
playing in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup next year,
had the draw during the week. It was made in Miami,
I think, and Byern Munich. Boker Juniors and ben Fica
(34:38):
are in their group, which is I think a tremendous
draw for Auckland City to get to play against Bayern Munich,
you know, one of the best sides on the planet,
Boca Juniors out of Argentina, Benficer from Portugal Locke, I
think it would be drawing a very long bow to
expect them to advance from that group. But the experience
of playing sides like that. That's got to be cooled,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
I think if you're Auckland's city, you know, and you
wait for these draws to come out, you actually want
to play a good team because all of the teams
are going to be good, so why not play it,
you know, a top team like Bayern Munich, just just
for the experience to have that on your football CV,
to say you played against that team. I think, you know,
even though it is a tough draw for them, a
lot of the players and staff will be, you know,
(35:20):
excited for that opportunity.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Absolutely right. When else are you going to get the
chance to rub shoulders with teams like that? You're absolutely right?
Speaker 2 (35:26):
Is that Harry Kane's team?
Speaker 1 (35:27):
Harry Kane in the unit that is Harry Kane's team.
Whether he plays or not, I guess remains to be seen.
It's in the off season. It's kind of June next year,
so it might be that some players elect not to go.
But imagine that imagined Auckland City up against Harry Kane.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Pretty cool. I'm also interested to see whether Cam Howison
and Liam Gillion get released from Auckland f C, which
I understand is potentially in talks to go and play
obviously because they helped helped Auckland City get to get
to that World Cup.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
So it was such a It's such a long off
season for the A League. Isn't it all over by
the end of May? You know, as long as they can,
you know, once they even get back from the club
world couple of stonny B July seasons to start till October. Yeah,
be good if they were, be good. If they were. Yeah,
they've been. Howison in particular has been a real servant,
hasn't he for Auckland City FC? So yeah, I feel
(36:20):
like that that's a yeah, that's a yeah, surely a
likely scenario, you'd think, all right, Bonnie, that wraps us
for a bumper edition. Again, they all seem to be
these days of football fever, so we all. I think
it's probably just to finish. It's probably quite a good idea,
I think for Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix to get
a bit of breathing space from one another now, you know,
(36:40):
twice in six weeks or whatever it was. I think
they can go about their business now, accumulate points so
to get into the regular season and then back together
on the twenty second of February, by which time we'll
have a very good idea of how the respective campaigns go.
So I think I think some breathing space from one
another's probably not a bad thing.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Yeah, bring it on. We'll see you back then in February.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
Look forward to it, and we'll see you back next
Monday for a new edition of Football Fever. This is
Football Fever. Fever
Football Fever with newstalksb's voice of Football, Jason Payne and
Bonny Jansen. Hello there, Back at our regular Monday spot
we go for Football Fever with FIFA Plus stream New
Zealand football live and free on FIFA plus dot com.
I'm Jason Pine. Bonnie Jensen's here too. We couldn't wait
till Thursday to unpack the action on and off the
field on Saturday at the Derby, Bonnie, could we How
(00:23):
are you.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
What a weekend? Piney? You honestly can't beat it. You know, like,
I've never been to watch a Premier League game in England,
but I was like, you know, I assume that that
would be pretty pretty top tier and I just felt
Saturday was so so impressive and you know, Auckland came
out on top. But I think regardless, there's plenty to
be proud of and Kiwi.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Football indeed, yeah, unprecedented as far as the occasion was concerned,
from what I could see. Let's start with the off
field stuff. For Darby two point I Walkland FC Wellington
Phoenix at go Media Stadium Saturday, the atmosphere pre game.
That was the first chance I've had to be at
Lily World, which is the bar basically adjacent to the
stadium where the port and anybody who supports anybody who's
(01:08):
playing can gather. It was just incredible. It was like
being in a South American country or a European country,
or outside a Premier League ground. Just the energy and
the noise amazing.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Just incredible. I completely agree, and I actually have FOMO
and I'm a bit envious of the fans because I'm
there having to work, and I'm just I just you know,
all these fans are sitting there and enjoying a beer
and you know, just like chanting away and the hype
is real, and you know, for that to be happening
well before kickoff, yeah, just incredible. Evens caught up with
(01:43):
the people tailgating, the tailgating community that are doing it
out the front of the stadium, and the car park
that had been there for hours before kickoff. It's yeah,
it was really awesome. And I think as well caught
up with Wellington Phoenix fans and yes, obviously the Auckland
and their rivals, but I think they were equally impressed
(02:04):
with what a show and what an occasion has put
on here by Auckland.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Well, every every Phoenix fan I spoke too, said exactly
the same thing, because every other time they've come to Auckland,
they've been part of the home crowd, right because all
the games up in Auckland have been Wellington Phoenix home games,
and those who have traveled over to Australia to watch
the Phoenix play. I don't know that they would have
got anything like that sort of experience at any of
those games. But I love seeing, you know, you know,
(02:31):
little pockets of yellow shirts dotted in and amongst all
the black and blue, and there was so much black
and blue man merchandise. Sales must be through the roof.
But there was. But there was no nastiness about it.
There was no there was no ad grow There was
good natured banter, of course there was. I even got
called out a couple of times. But I loved it.
I absolutely loved it. You know, there were so many
(02:52):
parts of it. I loved the key core of the port.
You know, there was a guy there with the megaphone
yelling out the chants, and so everybody was at the
bar basically would have learnt the chance. So when during
the game those chants began, people knew what to say.
They knew the words. I just you know, I saw.
I don't know whether this is a good or bad thing,
but Wayne Brown, the Mayor of Auckland, bouncing up and
(03:15):
down in the middle of the bar with his blue
and back shirt on.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
It was just mental brilliant. It is. It's really cool,
I think. I think, what's so cool is it? It's
become a real fad, Like it's a it's a cool
thing to be following this team, and it's it's such
a trend. You know, a lot of my mates are
going down and they're wanting to get the merch and
you know that they want to be part of it
all summer long. And I think your hats off to
(03:40):
this this new team. The marketing has been impeccable and
I've created that that hype. It's yeah, it's just as
you say, unprecedented. Yeah, really really impressed. And I can't
wait till I have a game where I'm not needing
to work and can go on sit down in Lily
World before the match.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Well, I'm sure that will happen. I'm sure that will
happen at some stage. I think that RB might we
needed you to be on the tools for such a
big occasion, but I'm sure we get the opportunity at
some stage. And in the march down the stairs, it's
just so cool having that bar so close as a
gathering point. I mean, you don't have to you don't
have to go in there and you know, have a
beer or have a drink or whatever. But that's the
(04:17):
meeting point, isn't it. And ever one march down the
stairs it was I just I just thought it was sensational.
The atmosphere created terrific. So on the field, Hierarchi Sarki
back for Auckland f C. That was that proved to
be a huge in for Auckland f C because I
thought he was the best player out there. Tim Payne,
Sam Sutton back for Wellington Phoenix. Louis Vus Strata often
(04:41):
jed in the first half when that happened, How worried
were you given the fact that he has been so crucial,
so integral to this team.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, I mean I found a bit of confidence for
Auckland f C knowing it was cam Houson coming on
and he's, you know, a really good solid player and
a leader to some degree as well. So I wasn't
too worried in that respect, but I did notice just
the presence of Louis Vastrata missing after he went off.
(05:11):
You know, he's he's been standout for this team, as
you say, and you could definitely notice when he wasn't
on the field like you could the week before when
Hiroki Sakai wasn't there.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
How good was Sakai? How good is he? What a player?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
He's so good and that you know that that own
goal obviously, it's like it was kind of almost a
carmon copy of what happened in their first game. And
he's so smart and just yeah, I really rate him.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah, he was the architect of the opening goal. Phoenix
haven't considered a first half goal all season, or I
hadn't up until then. In fact, before Saturday, the three
goals that conceded had all been after the seventy fifth minute,
so they'd been water tight for you know, five sixths
of every game. But yeah, across it came from from Sakai.
This one was an aerial delivery, competed to the one
(05:58):
against Bruceblyne that was along the deck. Either way, the
result was the same. Isaac Hughes couldn't head it away.
It was just coming too quickly. There was a man
behind him, Liam Gillian. I think who would have turned
the ball and if Hughes hadn't so yeah, one Bill.
It was funnily enough. It came just as I actually
thought Wellington was starting to grow into the game with
for Strata having gone. It felt to me as though
(06:20):
Cam Howison, yes good as he was, took a little
bit of time to get into the game when he arrived,
because you don't expect to arrive in the twentieth minute,
really do you? And I just thought Wellington were getting
some ascendancy, but when Auckland scored, it just changed the
complexion of things almost instantly. Nando Pineke's goal on the
seventy minute mark, what did you make of that in
terms of I mean again Sarkuai with a delivery. What
(06:42):
did you make of Josh olloway Emi coming for that
and then changing his mind?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Yeah, it wasn't a good goalkeeping decision at all. Yeah,
I was worried for Josh holloway Emy. Even his first
touch of the game was you could tell he was
nervous after what happened last time. I think, you know,
I don't know if he lacks confidence clearly, maybe a
(07:08):
bit indecisive, but yeah, I yeah, not a good goalkeeping decision,
but good on Nando. He was in the right position
to finish it off.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Yeah, he didn't get a lot of protection at the
far post, Josh Elloemi, you know, the players jumping for
the ball with Nando Pineker. You know, I think could
have done better. But yeah, no, you've got to give
it to Nando. You know, he hadn't scored a lot
of goals before he got to Walkland. Now he's got
two in six games. He must be absolutely loving it.
And it gave them the buffer Auckland FC. But then
(07:37):
in the eighty second minute, Costa Barbarusis with a goal
for Wellington five one hundred and thirty two minutes Auckland
without conceding. Then Costa scored the goal. It's set up
a really exciting finish.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah. Did they got the momentum And I you know,
I said on the podcast last week, I wanted the
Phoenix to win, or I wanted to a draw at
least just for the narrative. And I was kind of
hoping towards the end of that game they would get
another and it would end into all and how fun
that would have been for the fans, you know, to
have four goals in that game, but obviously wasn't to be.
(08:11):
I think the Phoenix can, you know, kind of hold
their heads high though with the performance. I think they, Yeah,
they don't go for it as much. I don't think
they take as many risks as Auckland too. As Auckland
f C do. You can kind of see that as
given on the stat sheet. You know, Auckland had far
(08:32):
more shots on goal. But yeah, they're not a bad side,
the Phoenix, and I don't think anyone will be ruling
them out.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Yeah, I think the stats show that chief ye is
all about efficiency when it comes to the attacking third. Yeah,
the shots stat Auckland had twenty shots, Wellington had six,
so then itself shows you that, you know, Auckland fired
off over three times as many. But in terms of
shots on target, Wellington had three on target and Auckland
(09:02):
had four on targets, so four out of twenty compared
to three out of six. The efficiency of getting shots
on target is much much high for Wellington. So but
then you think to yourself, well, imagine if they had
twice as many shots at goal.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Yeah, exactly, and they shared the position. The position was
fifty fifty percent each across the match. So you know,
Wellington have the ball, they just need to be creating
more opportunities. And you know, obviously cost is clinical when
he needs to be like, let's get him on the
ball war and let's create more opportunities. So I'm not
(09:36):
the coach, but I do wonder if maybe that's what
they'll be looking to do, looking to work on, you know,
going forward.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Yeah, I thought Marco rohas made an impact when he
came on. It was great to see him. As I
understand it, he's getting closer and closer to being able
to start matches. So I think once Marco Rohass is
in the starting eleven, you'll see a bit more in
terms of the creativity in the front third. I really
want to see Wellington go back to a back four
as well from here. I you know, the way they
played it on the weekend with with Sheridan and pain
(10:04):
Hughes wooton I'm forgetting somebody here but Sutton. Yeah, yeah,
So the way they played it with the back five
and then for some inexplicable reason, Tim Payne became a
striker in the second half just I guess to match
the physicality up top with Pineker and Dan Hall. But
I just really want to see them go back to
(10:25):
a back four of Pain Wooton, Hughes, Sutton with Rufa
and Retroy sitting in front and then four attacking players
the way that they did it last year. I know
the personnel's different, but they could, for argument's sake, go
with a front four of Aeshiga Barbarusis Nagasawa and Rojas
or Stefan Kolakowski. I would just like them to, like
(10:46):
to see them be a bit more bold and play
with four. You know, it's really a four to three
to three depending on which way you want to look
at it. But one of the midfield three has an
attacking brief, like in Nagasawa for example.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yeah, I like it, and that'll, you know, only help
them create more opportunities up the top and yet use
that position to actually get something from it. So I
don't mind it. Piney look at you.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Go, well, I mean I just I think, do.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
You watch do you watch football or something? Well, it's
luck you. It's like, yeah, so you're a football commentator.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Well, I've watched the odd match most but a lot
of some people some people think that doesn't qualify me
any more than anybody else to have an opinion, which
I think is right. We all watch the game, we
all see it in different ways. You know, Chief sees
it in a different way than I see it. Then
you see it than Steve Coriker sees it. That's the
beauty of it. It'll be a bit boring if we
all had the same view and the same sort of
global outlook as far as football is concerned. And you're
(11:38):
right they are a good team. They'll be there or
thereabouts in the six. But the fact is after six
games they've lost two, both of them though to Auckland.
You know, on their travels they've been good. Apart from
the weekend they've they've won all three of their games
in Australia. I think they'll still be there or thereabouts
when the playoff positions are decided. This was quite a
spicy match at times, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
It was a spicy match. And just going back to
your last point, Peney, I think the Phoenix are good
and how good it is that both teams are competitive,
you know, it would have sucked if if you know,
the Phoenix came up to Auckland this weekend and you know,
got thrashed three or four nil, and it just wasn't
like that. And I don't think it's either going to
be between these two teams just given the rivalry. But
(12:24):
you're really really glad they're competitive in terms of the
spice of the match. So Alex Paulson three times in
the first half, Oh, that was so stressing me out
right in front of the port as well. At first
I was like, okay, guys, come on like that. They
were terrible tackles on Ap and yeah, I was just like,
oh my gosh. But then by the third one, I
(12:45):
was like, okay, it's Ap milking this now, like it's
becoming a bit of a joke.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I thought the one I thought cost As one was
actually and I said this in commentary because Jacob Spoonley,
being the goalkeeper that he is, was trying to say
it was a bad challenge by Costa, But I sort
of wonder where cost is supposed to go in a
situation like that, you know, he was the balls plut
was sort of headed on, lobbed through Paulson comes out
to get it. Cost Us sort of looking at the
ball and then all of a sudden he's right there
and he's he kind of runs into Pauls and I
(13:10):
guess you could look at it in a different way.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Nobody left his league there.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Oh, that was in the second half. That was in
the second half. Which one are you talking about when.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
It was down in front of the in front of
the port.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yeah, no, no, well they jumped, they jumped together.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
They jumped together, but then his leg was kind of
like left out sideways. I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Okay, well, yeah, maybe you saw it again, maybe we
saw it differently, but yeah, like it was it just
it created the storyline that may or may not have
even been a storyline that you know, Wellington Phoenix's former
keeper was being targeted by his former teammates. There was
one in the second half we cost the left a
foot and when when Paulson cleared it and he was
given a yellow car for that, rightly, so I thought.
(13:50):
The other one, obviously, was the Alex Rufe for Louis
Toomey coming together, where you know, Louis kind of fell
on the ball and and Rufer just started to try
and kick it. Out from under him over vigorously. Steve
Coricle was having absolute kittens on the sideline, you know,
(14:11):
and Rufin knew exactly what he was doing. I thought,
though I heard Louis too, you interviewed afterwards and he said,
I think Rufa left went on me, but I probably
deserved it. I thought that was quite good from him.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Yeah, no, it's good. Louis would have been up for
for the banter knowing him, but yeah, it was. It was,
I reckon, a real shame from from Alex Rufer. It's
just yeah, too hot headed and you know, probably not
leading by example as the skipper when there's a lot
of young fans out there watching. But yeah, it was
certainly again created this narrative. What I also liked, going
(14:43):
back to ap was that early in the game or
every time he touched the ball, all the Auckland FC
fans cheered really loudly, and I thought that was Yeah,
that was a nice note as well.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Yeah, I think I was trying to drown out the
booze that were coming from the yellow fever. Oh, by
the way, I must say, great traveling support. Yes, they
you know much as the result went against them. You know,
they chanted and cheered and did everything that in away
team supporters should do. Uh and it was good to
see such huge numbers there. I thought they were They
were good too, and as I say, the banter was
(15:14):
was really good between the between the two there was
a bit of spice off the field as well in
the In the postmatch, both coaches were asked about the
you know, the relationship between the two sides, the rivalry
which is quickly built. During the week, John calo Ataliano
had done a media conference. This was either on the
Thursday or the Friday, where he had said that he
(15:37):
thought that Auckland f C had been lucky in the
first five games of the season and he thought that
they were vulnerable there for the taking words to that effect.
He was asked about those comments afterwards and whether he
regretted saying those words to add some fuel to this fire.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
You told me, in what league in the world a
team gets five out of six home games? For me,
I don't know. If you want to call it luck,
you want to call Paul planning, you want to call
a gift, you can call it whatever you want. I
think that was the point I was shoting to make,
and I stick to it. I mean, I asked you,
do you think it's fair that a team has five
out of six games at home as the start of
(16:16):
the season, or if you can count to me, what
team has had that opportunity. That was the point I
was shoying to make and I.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
Stick by that.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Again. They beat us on the park. There's no luck
about that. They deserve to win. That's I'd never ever
say that. But there is an advantage when you play
five out of six games you don't travel. We went
to Perth, played Central Coast, which is an extra day.
We played in Sydney. They've had one trip, which in
fairness they did win. But again, when you start going
(16:45):
through you know the rigmarole of going home in a
way it does you know, it can be quite taxing.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
So that's gian Callo a Taliano. Here is Steve Coriker.
This is the order in which the priest conferences were done.
Gian Callo Italiana was first, so we heard say that first.
It was put back to Steve Kriker about the comments
and whether they had an impact on the team and
what he made of the comments by jian Callotelliano.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Yeah, I'm a little bit disappointed, to be honest with you.
With Chief, you mentioned a couple of things in the
media which you know, a little bit disrespectful to our team.
You know that they were there for the taking. We've
been lucky. We haven't been lucky. You know, you need
a little bit of luck obviously to win games. But
we won all six, so you know, you don't get
(17:29):
lucky by by doing that. There's you know, the process
you have to go through. Obviously we've had a few
home games early on, but at the back end of
the season we still have to play the same amount
of games away from homes. And I don't make the rules,
don't I don't do the draws. So obviously you know
(17:49):
we were the better team. And you know I use
that in motivation for the boys as well, because it helps. Helps.
Every little inch helps in derby games. Pinned up on
the wall to make sure all the players saw it,
because you know, we haven't been lucky. We've we've been
working hard for for these wins. We've been playing good football.
You know, it's probably a little bit out of it
(18:12):
wasn't necessary needed. You know, I think they're they're a
good football team. We respect them, you know, I think
he needs to sharre little bit more respect for us.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
What do you make of all of that?
Speaker 2 (18:23):
I completely agree with with Chief. Ye, I think they
have had a very very lucky draw to start off
their their campaign. You know, going back to the Wellington
Phoenix women last season, they had heaps of away games
to begin with and that absolutely screwed them. But yeah,
(18:45):
just I like how Steve Kroker responded in terms of
putting it up on the wall, using it as ammunition
and yeah, kind of letting the letting the football talk.
But I think Chief he you know, had a place
to say and I'm kind of glad he got a
bit fired up because I felt like we would get it.
It was a bit lackluster, you know, out of the
(19:07):
Phoenix camp and them hyping up this rivalry. I feel
like it's more come from the Auckland fans, the Auckland
team and supporters.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, I think he's absolutely got a point as well.
You know, the maths would say that in the first
six games of the season, for Auckland f C. To
only have to go to Australia once and not even
have to go to an away game as such, because
it was unite round when everybody was in Sydney. They
haven't had to go to the away ground of any
team apart from not in Australia anyway. Wellington, yes, of course,
(19:35):
and they negotiated that they won that, but they haven't
had to go to an away Australian ground yet. But
like Steve Corik has said, he doesn't make the drawer,
he doesn't make the rules. They're presented with the draw
and he's dead right back into the season, Bonnie. Five
of their last eight games are away from March mid
(19:55):
March to the end of the season in early May.
They've got to go to Newcastle, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne Victory
and Western United and they only have three games at
home in that time. So it's all swings and roundabouts things. Yeah,
things even themselves out across the season in a twenty
six game season. Yeah, thirteen games at home and thirteen
games away and you know, but what it has done
(20:16):
is given them a very comfortable launching pad. But they've
still had to take advantage of that launching pad.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Yeah for sure. No, you're absolutely right, and yeah, times
are going to be tested when they go and play
over in Melbourne. You know, from this weekend, So yeah,
looking forward, I am intrigued as well. You know, it's
obviously helped with the hype and the momentum, and I'm
just intrigued to see if they'll be able to continue this.
You know, so far, so good six games in, but yeah,
(20:45):
who knows what's going to happen.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Well, let's have a look at their next few fixtures.
They've got Melbourne City away on Sunday, which is going
to be a difficult game. Melbourne City are playing really
really well. They dealt to Brisbane on the weekend, not
that that is much of a high bar because Brisbane
have been pretty poor the season. But then they have
Western United at home just before Christmas, and then the
Mariner is away between Christmas and New Year, so that's
(21:07):
not on the on a three game swing, that's not,
I guess, really really hard. But then you come to January.
Here is January schedule for Auckland FC. Melbourne victory at home.
That's Auckland's home game on New Year's Day. Then they've
got to go to Perth, the longest away trip they'll have,
back home for a game against Melbourne City and then
(21:28):
a way to Adelaide and Western Sydney Wanderers. That is
a tough January. I think by the end of January
we'll have an idea on what you're talking about, whether
they can continue it on or not, whether they are
the real deal.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
No, one hundred percent, And I hope I hope they
are because I want this to continue. I want, you know,
Auckland f Seed and the Wellington Phoenix to stay up
near the top of the table. It's just making this
whole narrative so much better. But I am, you know,
a little bit worried that is it too good to
be true? We'll soon find out.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Well, I guess they can only plage game, aren't they?
Six from six? Here they are top of the table
eighteen points, Wellington Phoenix a fifth on ten points, just
on the crowd twenty five two hundred and fifty three
clearly a made up number because because well, I mean
they said during the week, they said during the week
that at full capacity we can get to twenty five. Sorry,
(22:21):
twenty six was twenty six, wasn't it? Twenty six two
five three, which is exactly one more person than the
twenty six two five two who were there in Wellington
for the first Derby. Right, that's what turned up for
the first Derby twenty six two five two. They said,
during the week we've opened up extra seats and if
everybody comes twenty six two five three, Bonnie, come on.
(22:42):
There were empty seats there.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Well, there were empty seats pinting, but there were a
lot of full seats. And I took a photo of
the other of the stand which you would have been in,
so you wouldn't have really been able to see it, right,
but you would have been able to see the stand
that I was in. But there were so many people
on the on the bank, on both sides, on the
south and north stands.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
But if it only sold, if they've only sold twenty six,
two hundred and fifty three tickets and there are empty seats,
then how can there have been two thousand.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
Of people move from their seats to the banks, is
what I'm trying to say. Think about the think about
like that all the all the game entertainment they had
going on in and around the stadium, Like I don't
think people were seated in their seats the whole game.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Well, I guess we'll have to disagree on this, but again,
it's a nice little piece of banter. What it's done
as well is boosted Auckland's first four home games attendance
to seventy eight one and thirty six. That's their first
four games. Do you know that is more than the
New Zealand Knights got across their entire two seasons of
(23:50):
existence in just four games.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
That's crazy. But yeah, I just can't believe you've found
that yet another just fantastic stat Piny wasn't mine.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
I can't claim it was. I was handed that one,
but it is. It does show just the night and
day between Auckland f C and the New Zealand Knights
of two thousand and five, six seven, just you know,
just night and day. A couple of other things. Hamoush
curded the coin toss our Olympic high jump champion, adding
a bit of glitz and glamour. You sent me a
(24:21):
message unless it was a TYPEO. Was there a barber
in the corporate area?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Yes, there was a barber in the corporate area. I
was honestly like, this is so Auckland f C. Like
they've just honestly just gone above and beyond it so America.
You know, it was in the Black Night Lounge and
they had a full I think it was sponsored by Heineken,
and they had a barber, people lining up to have
a little fresh, fresh trim before kickoff, and yeah, just
(24:51):
like it was a whole spectacle. And then in the year,
this big bang and these fireworks are going off, and
then year, you know, you hear the crowd cheering as
three skydivers are coming in with the ball, Like I
was just like, oh my gosh, this is so excessive.
But yeah, brilliant, you know, brilliant in game entertainment for sure.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Yep, they've nailed that for sure. And even a barber
in the corporate area, you know that's a talking point.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Yeah, it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Yeah, well people getting their hair cut.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Yeah, people were. They were sitting on there and I
was like, I could have done with a little trim.
But I'm not sure if that barbers do girls here.
Maybe they do. But to guess who I was sitting
next to Piney in the corporate.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Area, I won't be able to guess. Was it someone famous?
Speaker 2 (25:30):
It was someone famous?
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Was it has no?
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Okay, I got I got very nervous. It was Dan Carter,
Dan Carter, he was he I was sitting there by
myself in the kind of corporate area seats where it's
people just can kind of sit wherever. And then I
was sitting on a solo chair and there were about
four seats next to me, and he comes up behind
me and goes, hey, are these seats taken? And I
just like froze. I was like, sorry, pardon. I was like, no,
(25:57):
you sit there. So he sat like literally right next
to me in the seat for the whole first half.
And as I've said, I've controversially said I was going
for the Phoenix on Saturday, so I was like cheering
for them, and then I had to but I was
like trying to contain myself because I didn't want him
to hate me because he was going for Auckland. O
spoiler alert, So Dan Carter, if you're listening to this podcast, sorry,
(26:19):
I was really shy and didn't say hi.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
I'm sure it wouldn't have been the first time that
somebody was starstrike sitting next to next to Dan Carter.
But again, yeah, the celebrities are out in force to
watch this team play. So Auckland f c away at
Melbourne City on Sunday. Melbourne City a fourth that'll be
a good game actually, and the Wellington Phoenix about it.
Back home, they'll lick their wounds, pick themselves up, dust
themselves off and host eighth place to MacArthur. That is
(26:45):
on Saturday afternoon at five o'clock at Sky Stadium Football
Fever with Jason Vine and Bonnie Jess And following that,
the Wellington Phoenix women had a game yesterday Sunday at
Pottdoor Park in the Ninja A league came to town
and Brisbane were going really well. They lost their first
game to Canberra, but then won their next three without
(27:05):
conceding a goal. Second on the table. The Phoenix beat
them to one. This is a very very very good result.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Oh, stoked for Stoked for the Phoenix, really solid result
particularly you know they went up one now then they
can conceded another and they you know, stayed in the game.
And Annalie Longo to you know, just take charge steady
of the ship as a skipper. Very very impressed. And yes,
you know Brisbane Raw were missing their two best players
(27:33):
to make Yellock Yellop and Sean Fryer who were offered
the Matildas. But yes, so bloody brilliant to get the
job done.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Absolutely, andally Longo back. She had that really nasty bang
on the face against Newcastle which saw her miss the
game against Adelaide last weekend. Came back a couple of goals,
maybe a touch of fortune with the second one with
the Brisbane goalkeeper kind of misjudging the shot, which I'm
sure if Anale Longo was honest, she'd say she didn't
hit as perfectly as she would have liked, but it
(28:03):
went in, as did her goal in the first half.
She said afterwards it was nice to be in the
headlines for the right reasons rather than try to get
her dog off the field.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Yes, seriously, she's been in the headlines for a few
different things, obviously with that injury in the dog. So yeah,
it was. It was awesome and I think that's you know,
that's kind of like Heroki is like with AFC. She
shows leadership through football and yeah, very.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Very good indeed. Yeh. So Phoenix scored first, but has
been leveled up just before halftime. Then anally Longo scored
the winning goal in the second half. We've got our
first look at new US center back Olivia Kelly. She
came on at halftime. Looks to be a good acquisition
Grace Jarley. Only the last fifteen minutes she hasn't quite
found her feet and fired her best shots on her
return to Phoenix, she'd has she Grace.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Yeah, it is interesting and I am intrigued to hear
if maybe she's carrying a little niggle or an injury.
But clearly Paul Temp's Temple just wanted to try something new,
and yeah, I don't think you know this is going
to be a long term thing, Grace Jarlie on the bench,
even saying with Emma Maine, I think once they find
(29:08):
how to unlock those two forwards, you know they'll be
really lethal. But for now it's obviously not working. And
I don't mind Paul Temple making a big call at that.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Well, I mean, Grace Jarlie is not a bad play
aff coming off the bench either to change your game
if that's what they see her best uses at the moment.
So she came on at the end. Wellington Phoenix up
to seventh. So after three straight losses, two straight wins,
they've got second placed Melbourne victory away on Friday night.
That's tough short turn around two from Sunday to Friday.
(29:39):
Claudia bunge. Of course back at Melbourne victory. How do
you assess their chances of getting something out of that game?
Speaker 2 (29:45):
It will be tough, it will be really tough. I
just hope it's a close, competitive game and I think
they can you know, even if they don't get the result,
they can come away happy. Yeah. I just like it's
great to see, you know, as you just said, seventh
on the table. I hope you know, they can keep
going now with this momentum finally after a couple of
(30:07):
alright results. Yeah, things should maybe play in their play
in their favor a little bit more.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
And there was a celebrity at that game as well,
not Dan Carter, but I think Macy Fraser was there.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Macy Fraser. Yeah, they saw that that photo of her.
That is very intriguing. I mean it is the off
season in the nws L. We know that she didn't
play basically since the Olympics, so I don't think she
did play at all for Utah Royals. Maybe she you know,
wasn't wasn't for her over there, and I mean she
(30:40):
obviously played great for the Wellington Phoenix and that's where
she you know, enjoyed her football. So maybe it's not
a bad thing for her to come back.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Well, I'm with wait and see on that, whether in
fact you know it would be a good move for
the player or for the club. Who knows. You know,
it's there's, there's, there's never a perfect fit anywhere. I
don't and I'd love to see her go back to
Utah really make a good, good go at it. You know,
she's such a talented player, and when she got that move,
there was such high excitement. And even when she played
(31:10):
a couple of games, she didn't really look out of place,
did she. She looked okay at that level, Oh, she looked.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Great, and she was so good on and off the ball,
and even you know, with a few opportunities with the
football ferns, she again looks really good. I just think
she needs to to find what works for her. Obviously,
you know, she's carrying some injuries and for whatever reason,
(31:36):
she didn't play the second half of the season in
Utah Royals. But I just hope she can find it,
because she would be. She's too good of a player
not to be playing football.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
Really, hang on, that's it on a nutshell. She's far
too good to be watching games of football. Rather than
be playing in games of football. It's hope for some
positive news on the Macy Fraser front in twenty twenty five.
This is football fever. It's finished with keep's overseas. Would
another goal a significant goal? This one on his thirty
third birthday for Nottingham Forest in a three to two
(32:06):
victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Now the last
time that Nottingham Forest won at Old Trafford. Chris Wood
had just turned three years old, so it was thirty
years since they'd last done it. He is now Nottingham
Forest's all time leading Premier League goal scorer. You kind
of run out of ways to explain just how significant
(32:27):
this is and how well Chris Wood is going, and
how much he has loved in that club and helping
them to stay up in the top half of the table.
I think their fifth or sixth after the latest round
of matches. He's just doing amazing. Libby Cacaci got his
first goal for Empeli this morning in a four one
away when at Verona. That's his first goal since twenty
(32:48):
twenty two when he scored for the All Whites, his
first club goal since he scored for the Phoenix against
the Mariners back in March of twenty twenty. He's had
a number of goals ruled out for offside or a
foul or whatever for em police, so to see him
finally get his first one was really call. There's some
great pictures of him celebrating with his teammates this morning,
and he like just is playing really well for Saint
(33:10):
Poulton in Austria. He scored the winner in their latest
game and has been a big part of them winning
four games in a row. What about our women around
the place?
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Yeah, vick Erson, you're not going to believe this, Piney,
because I suddenly didn't played in goal for Rangers against
West Dyke in the Scottish Cup. They won twenty four.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
One, twenty four one.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
I just don't like, I don't believe it. But how
does she concede?
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Well, I just that's exactly what I was thinking.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
I'm going to go back and watch the highlights.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Twenty four one. Maybe she just lost concentration for a
milli second. I wonder what the score was when West
Dyke got their goal. Was it would it have been
like one all or two to one or maybe it
was they scored first well, who knows, maybe Rangers had
to come from one nil down to win twenty four
to one.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Goodness was crazy. And Hannah Blake and Mickey Foster that
both started for Durham FC in the Women's FA Cup
and had a big one well one there went over
Birmingham who are won ahead of them in the Women's Championship,
so I think those two teams are going to be
rivals all season.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Good stuff. Great to see Mickey Foster in particular kicking
on from her time at Wellington Phoenix. So just finally
this week the news that Auckland City FC, who are
playing in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup next year,
had the draw during the week. It was made in Miami,
I think, and Byern Munich. Boker Juniors and ben Fica
(34:38):
are in their group, which is I think a tremendous
draw for Auckland City to get to play against Bayern Munich,
you know, one of the best sides on the planet,
Boca Juniors out of Argentina, Benficer from Portugal Locke, I
think it would be drawing a very long bow to
expect them to advance from that group. But the experience
of playing sides like that. That's got to be cooled,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
I think if you're Auckland's city, you know, and you
wait for these draws to come out, you actually want
to play a good team because all of the teams
are going to be good, so why not play it,
you know, a top team like Bayern Munich, just just
for the experience to have that on your football CV,
to say you played against that team. I think, you know,
even though it is a tough draw for them, a
lot of the players and staff will be, you know,
(35:20):
excited for that opportunity.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Absolutely right. When else are you going to get the
chance to rub shoulders with teams like that? You're absolutely right?
Speaker 2 (35:26):
Is that Harry Kane's team?
Speaker 1 (35:27):
Harry Kane in the unit that is Harry Kane's team.
Whether he plays or not, I guess remains to be seen.
It's in the off season. It's kind of June next year,
so it might be that some players elect not to go.
But imagine that imagined Auckland City up against Harry Kane.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Pretty cool. I'm also interested to see whether Cam Howison
and Liam Gillion get released from Auckland f C, which
I understand is potentially in talks to go and play
obviously because they helped helped Auckland City get to get
to that World Cup.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
So it was such a It's such a long off
season for the A League. Isn't it all over by
the end of May? You know, as long as they can,
you know, once they even get back from the club
world couple of stonny B July seasons to start till October. Yeah,
be good if they were, be good. If they were. Yeah,
they've been. Howison in particular has been a real servant,
hasn't he for Auckland City FC? So yeah, I feel
(36:20):
like that that's a yeah, that's a yeah, surely a
likely scenario, you'd think, all right, Bonnie, that wraps us
for a bumper edition. Again, they all seem to be
these days of football fever, so we all. I think
it's probably just to finish. It's probably quite a good idea,
I think for Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix to get
a bit of breathing space from one another now, you know,
(36:40):
twice in six weeks or whatever it was. I think
they can go about their business now, accumulate points so
to get into the regular season and then back together
on the twenty second of February, by which time we'll
have a very good idea of how the respective campaigns go.
So I think I think some breathing space from one
another's probably not a bad thing.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Yeah, bring it on. We'll see you back then in February.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
Look forward to it, and we'll see you back next
Monday for a new edition of Football Fever. This is
Football Fever. Fever
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Decisions, Decisions
Welcome to "Decisions, Decisions," the podcast where boundaries are pushed, and conversations get candid! Join your favorite hosts, Mandii B and WeezyWTF, as they dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often-taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. Every Monday, Mandii and Weezy invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, they share their personal journeys navigating their 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that resonate with your experiences, "Decisions, Decisions" is your go-to source for open dialogue about what it truly means to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections—tune in and join the conversation!