Southern Football (incl Southern United)

Little is the best keeper in town, made the caversham backline look half decent, has better distribution than Peter.

                                            Starting line up for the season

                                                                 Pete

                                                  Conner   Joy Corkill       Prattley

AJ                                                  Morgan        De Costa                              Regan

                                                                    Joel

                                                                     Ants

Has anyone new of note turned up at training?

I've heard james watson is training, this will give the squad allot of depth at centre back if he plays to the high standards he has in the past

my starting line up and bench players

                                                                                              liam 

scotsman                                                                  joy        prattley                                             tom

joel                                                                              mepham      morgan                                     regan 

                                                                                   govern             ants

bench: James Watson De Costa,Jude

 needs more burgess

any chance of him playing?

Too old for nzfc...let the likes of Donnie and James have there chance to prove themselves 

Donnie McGregor hahaha surely he has gone home already, did he even score a goal for green island? Actually did he even play? 

1.5 at the most

Just went to watch what I hope is the otago b side.. Don't think many if any of those players have much of a chance of playing for united and I'f they do, united are in some trouble! Although at least they got the w! In saying that James Watson was a stand out! Class above 

who did they play mailman?

Dont know what game you were watching Mailman?

To me James Watson looked slow didnt play out well from the back and hasnt improved from the average season he had in the winter league.

Do agree that most of the players would struggle to make the B side

I think they played whats called the chelsea academy in New Zealand. They had some very handy players even though they are only 16.Come on fizbot, I thought he held the defense together well and showed some leadership which was lacking out there. Think hell sneak in for a contract this summer.

Anyone know when the squad is to be officially announced? Word through the grape vine is that there will be a few surprises and a few fresh faces. Exciting times ahead!

It's all a bit quiet.  Any trial games this weekend?

Intersquad match was played on Saturday and all Caversham players stood out

Should all start this season in a strong squad

Seriously?  Not all of the Cavy boys are that good; they seem a great defensively organized unit, but FS-POTY Harley is gone and so where is their midfield now?  Up front Ant is great of course - but it will be Little who is the best GK by a mile (I am a Roslyn lad BTW), the wee Scot Ferguson (if he's fit), the big lad Fitzpatrick, and Ant that will start so I'm told; that's it.  Ridden and Ryder will be on the bench.  Who else is there?Loved what Rab said about Burgess in the ODT - I quote: "The Dunedin Technical striker is one of a rare breed who can transform an ordinary team into championship material".  And so that's about it for Tech then?  Matt Joy and Tristan and maybe the Frenchy will be there in Aaron's absence - so it will be the the Roslyn boys who step up for the rest of the places.  Oh yeah Joel Stevens is class; real class.

Anyone know if Fraser cameron trailing fir OU, thought he was class for Roslyn, Sannum another I,d like to see given a chance. Roslyn player if the year says it all

If there was an Otago United 3rd team Fraser wouldn't even make that. He's slow, technically average and is never going to threat a defence

 Some photos and news on who has been training / trialling

The following players have been at training at stages over the last 2 weeks..

Caversham - Jude Fitzpatrick, Ant Hancock, Craig Ferguson, Andrew Ridden , Seamus Ryder, Liam Little

Dunedin Tech - Tristan Prattley, Victor De Costa, Matt Joy, Ross Howard

Mosgiel - Regan Coldicott, Morgan Day, Curtis Day, Tim Dunn, Tom Stevens

Roslyn-Wakari - Tom Connor, Sam Mepham, Aajay Cunningham, James Watson, James Govan, Jackson Mitchell

Green Island - Scott Gannon, Joel Stevens, Taylor McCormack, Liam Dungey, Matt McKay,
Donnie MacGregor, Jesse Smith.

Northern - Norbet Freyer, James O'Callaghan,
University - Steven Blackmore, Geordie Mansfield, Grants Braes - Anthony Mellon

Trialists from out of town..

Americans' Grant Robson and Jake Morrison via Ellerslie (Auckland)

and an Australian - Matt Gordon

critter

 Caversham - Jude Fitzpatrick, Ant Hancock, Craig Ferguson, Andrew Ridden , Seamus Ryder, Liam Little

all in starting lineup come Novemeber 4th

Too much chat!

Otagoes favourite son Burgess spotted at OU training last night, looks like he may have joined the coaching staff? Also Kris Wheeler? not sure wat he's up to

Aaron Burgess would have looked sharp in a Caversham top

Any news on the OU front?

Counting down the days until the big day .... 4th of July Manawatu will be put to the sword!

I am looking forward to the performances of a few key players this season. Matt Joy, the Tech lad who better not let many past him. I've heard from a good source that he is amped up for the battle against one of his idols, The King, Ivan Vicelich against Auckland City.

I have followed Tech all season and have high praise for Mike Fridge and the way he has developed these young fellas. Guys like Tim Stokes come to mind.

Heard a rumour rumour of a pre season game in Timaru this weekend against Canterbury. Anyone know anything about this?

The South Island Masters Games is on there as well so could be a decent crowd for Timaru.

Does anyone know if Canterbury are looking strong this year? Should be a good way to prepare for the upcoming campaign.

Has the official squad been named yet?

I see Grans Remedy has come back on board for the major sponsor which is good for the lads. 

CavershamAFC is Seamus Ryder

On the Otago United website RM is quoted as saying a squad of 16 is going to Timaru to give 'trialists one final opportunity to impress".  Does that mean the certainties won't be getting a run?  That would seem strange to me because surely even they need a good hit out and Canterbury will certainly be up for one.  Made a few calls last night but it seems RM is keeping his cards close to his chest re the final squad details.  Some good players are going to miss out though I'm told.  My sources disagree on the 16 for the weekend (if the best side was named), but it might be: Little, Connor, Joy, Fitzpatrick, Prattley, Gannon, De Costa, Ryder, Coldicott, Stevens, Hancock, Ferguson, Govan, Ridden, Cunningham plus reserve GK.

Ive just heard that the team is virtually being named this Thursday night at their training.

The side will be travelling to Timaru on Sunday for the Canterbury game.

I have watched a couple of their trainings from a distance and i have noticed little Curtis Day is really putting his hand up for selection. Even if he doesnt make it, it is good to see a young guy putting pressure on these older guys that may be taking their spots for granted. 

That makes much more sense to pick the side before the Canterbury game.  Perhaps Curtis is one for the future - good luck to him.  Wonder if Morgan will feature much this year.

Caversham AFC players looking sharp at trainings so far

So what's the word on the team for the weekend?

Team travelling up:

Little, Ferguson, Jake (American), Grant (American), Cunningham, Mepham, Fitzpatrick, Govan, Watson, Hancock, Howard, Blackmore, Joy, Ryder, Victor (French)

I dont know why Morgan Day and Coldicott are not there, they played so well for us last season

Pretty interesting thanks Jazz.  And that's only 15 - is there a reserve keeper?  Prattley, Connor and Stevens are certainties so there's no need to look at them I guess.  Perhaps the same is true of Morgan Day and Regan, particularly the latter in my opinion anyway.  Howard still qualifies as an Academy player I think, and so I think does Ridden so no need to look at him.  Would like to know more about the Americans - looking at the possible line-ups it seems to me like one could be a striker and the other a defender - let's hope they are good enough to really add something.

And what about the Aussie Gannon?  I was told he was the bees knees.