Southern Football (incl Southern United)

From the looks of things United will not have the services of Prattley this season. He is up Waitakere signing with them for the season, i would say that this was the last we will see of him playing club footy in Dunedin. Sad to see, but good on him.

All Gannon has got is a reputation, but sadly he still hasn't lived up to it.

Jake, one the American boys is a defender and looked very sharp at the back last night. I drove down that Logan Park Drive last night for a look at was impressed just from first impressions. 

O wow - well all the best Tristan you have served Otago well.  And it's good that we may have gained a good defender then if we've lost Prattley.

The other issue now of course is who will take the captains arm band?

On experience you would say Connor maybe? But if we are looking forward and really trying to get the best out of someone then I reckon Ryder would be a good captain. I have seen him show good leadership qualities over last united season. Could be a bit of a risk, but it could do some good things for his game.

Was he the vice -captain at Cavy?  I thought Harley was the captain.  But yeah anyway I think he could be OK.  Someone needs to step up that's for sure.

Yeah when Harley came, he took over the captaincy at Cavy. Ryder also missed a portion of this club season when he was overseas.

But now Harley is up Hawkes Bay so there are certainly some leaders that need to be developed

 Good to hear the lads had a mental skills session this morning.... The will need some mental toughness this season.

Could be a terrible game tomorrow with all this rain

There will be a real air of confidence amoungst this bunch this year! I'm telling you that now! Otago WILL win tomrrow.

Should be a good trip to Timaru for the Ladd, I heard Burgess was playing so he would have to be captain for sure, only one anybody would listen too. When did Prattley leave? That's shite for Otago but great for him, 

Just back from watching the game. Otago went down 2-0. Probably a fair result. The pitch was pretty average because of the heavy rain yesterday, so was hard for either team to get the ball on the deck. 

The Otago team looked pretty unfamiliar. Burgess wasn't playing. Little, Joy and Hancock were probably the best Otago players. Wasn't really a day for the ball playing midfielders like Ridden and Aajay. Team looks a lot less solid without Prattley and Rodeka. Hopefully a few of the trialists step can step up this season. 

What was the line-up frazz?  That's not too disappointing a result in my mind; we were without a couple of key players and asking young lads like Ridden and Aajay to front up in the mud is a big ask - Canterbury sides are normally older and pretty physical.  Pretty exciting that Burgess might be playing, or is that an early April Fools?

There was rolling subs throughout the game, so Murray was obviously testing different combinations. Canterbury did look a lot more experienced and older. Joy, Ferguson, Fitzpatrick, Aajay, Hancock, bearded trialist?? and Little played all or most of the game. Ridden, Mepham, Blackmore? (Uni midfielder), Victor Da Costa all played a fair bit. Not too sure about the names of trialists but there were a few unknown faces to me. None stood out but hard to in a scrappy game on an average pitch. The trialist with the beard looked decent as did Da Costa at times. Fitzpatrick got caught dwelling  on the ball a few times also. Not sure if anybody really put there hand up for a contract. Otago weren't much worse than Canterbury. Not too concerning a result really. Will be interesting to see who makes the final cut...

Does anyone know when the squad gets named?

Predicted starting line up for Manawatu?

Whoever was left back for Otago impressed me. Looked the best on the park

Any truth to the rumour thst Reg Coldicot broke his nose or jaw or something at the sevens from an elbow this weekend?

Aajay looked fabulous today! stroking the pill round from all areas of the park! Otago will be STRONG this year

 did canterbury have nate knox?

Would have been a different result if Ryder, Day and Coldicott were playing. 
Promising start from the United lads, was very impressed by Cunningham, Joy and Da Costa. 

Coldicott broke his nose at the Alex 7s on the weekend, but that shouldnt keep him out for long.

Burgess will be training with the team this week, will bring huge experience to the side.

Interesting report and photos on the ASB website.  Gives the full line up as: Little, Morrison, Joy, Fitzpatrick, Ferguson, Mepham, Cunningham, Robson, Ridden, da Costa, Hancock, Blackmore, McCormack, Govan.  Mentions Prattley, Gannon, Connor, Coldicott and Stevens were unavailable.  No mention of Ryder or Day in there at all - so perhaps those two are down the pecking order now.  Says the team lacks fitness, fortunately that's easily fixed.

Ryder is injured.

Day was at Alex 7's.

So both were unavailable for the game.

Hey what's happened to Liam Lockhart and James Watson?  With Prattley perhaps going Lockhart would be a good kid for left back cover wouldn't he?  Or did he not feature much for Tech this year?  And what about young Watson?  I don't think he's a centre back personally, but good cover for Tom Connor I reckon.  I'm pleased with the mature look the squad has compared with last year, but with Stevens, Ridden, Fitzpatrick, Mepham and Cunningham there is still plenty of development for the future as well.  Would be a shame if Watson and Lockhart fell off the radar.

Ah OK.  I'm so out of touch living up here now. Although Day didn't get a mention and Coldicott did....

Did Coldicott and Day clean up at Alex or did Burgess's team win it?

 just found the canterbury squad for the weekend's otago game on the asb prem site.  is hulbert the new import?

Canterbury United
coach Keith Braithwaite, assistant Tito
Adam Highfield, Tom Batty
3 Nick Wortelbauer, 2 Dan Terris, 5 Tom Schwarz, 4 Julyan Collett
6, Josh Smith, 8 Chris Murphy, 7 Ken Yamamaoto, 11 Andrew Barton
9 Ricky Hulbert, 12 Louie Bush, 13 Blair Duncan, 14 Mike Fifi

Maybe Ryder might be down the pecking order but you would have to be crazy to leave Day out of the starting lineup

Fiz honestly all my sources tell me that although he is not out of favour in any way, there are others ahead of him.  Da Costa and Mepham will be in the middle of the park at the start I think because they are seen as stronger and bigger.  Gannon is favoured also and Murray and co think they can reel in his 'attitude'.  Young Joel Stevens is seen as something very special and will play out wide or in behind Ant/Govan up front -  and fair enough.  Aajay, also, I believe is one marked for greatness.  This makes it hard for Morgan, but he has a massive heart and great motor.  He will be called on during the season I'm sure, but maybe not at the start.  If Prattley really has gone then by my reckoning Morgan is second in National League appearances next to Tom.  Liam is a close third.   For that reason alone Morgan's experiance is needed.

Hey that's not right!  You mean Scottish and 5'3" tall don't you?  Nice player Ferg.  Let's hope he stays injury free and out of the ref's book!!

Fiz are you Cody Brook?  Haha mate you gotta fix your profile. But your posts are good and not really biased that much for a Mosgielian.  Except one time you had Corkill at CB in your pick.  Mate that ain't right; Mike McGarry should be there.

Possible starting lineup 4 5 1, Little, Connor, American, Joy, Ferguson.....Stephens, Gannon, French, Ridden, Coldicott, Hancock
 Bench of Mepham, Fitzpatrick, Govan, Keeper

If Prattley available and rumours of Burgess are true?

4 4 2...Little, Connor, American, Prattley, Ferguson...Stephens, Gannon, French, Coldicott...Hancock, Burgess
or 4 5 1 with Burgess or Hancock playing slightly deeper?

Bench of Ridden, Joy, Mepham, Keeper.......

Could go all right especially the second lineup as adds so much more depth and experience. Definetly got some pace out wide and hopefully some goals this year??

I can't disagree with that much XFactor, except I'm told they really rate the Fitzpatrick lad.  He is a Cavy boy and still young with lot's of development in him, but they like his attitude and technique.  He might make the odd mistake but he can score goals as well as defend, which is what we need,  So him ahead of the American at CB in a 4-5-1 I think.  And it won't be Ridden to start in a 4-5-1, but Mepham I think.  They favour Ridden too, but he's got to get more experience.  And in a 4-4-2 with Prattley still around they would put him at LB with Joy and Fitzpatrick at CBs with Ferguson on the bench.  Just what I'm told.  With Burgess available and in a 4-4-2 it will be Gannon that will drop to the bench.  There is no way Matt Joy will be on the bench, the American is liked but now way ahead of Joy or even Fitzpatrick at CB.  Anyway that's my bet from my sources for the opening game. Put yours out their people!

Team vs Manawatu

Little

Morrison Joy Fitzpatrick Ferguson

Stevens Cunningham Mepham Da Costa

Hancock Govan 

Bench: Burgess, Ridden, Conner, Ryder

Can't say I disagree with that too much either - in fact it's got a nice balance about it and no Mosgiel players!  I'm looking forward to seeing this American Morrison if he can keep Tom out of the starting line-up.  Competition for places looks pretty intense and this is just what we need.  All we need is Pete on the bench to make it FIVE Rosyln lads.

Just got off the phone to a mate. He knows Matt Joy through uni, apparently Waikato are chasing him?

Lets hope we can keep young guys like him, especially considering we have already lost Prattley.

Tech is going down the gurgler.

That's not good news at all.  Well Tech going down the gurgler is, but not losing a player who really started to hit the straps last season who we all expect great things of.  Otago really does need to find some 'incentive' to keep guys like him.  It's the same old story though isn't it?

Such a yarn, Waikato probably don't even know who he is? They can also cherry pick from Auckland why waste time looking in Dunedin?
Joy also doing summer school in Dunedin so ain't going no where

Nah he not doing summer school, only got first semester next year to go. Not sure what he is doing at uni though, probably PE or commerce.

Quite often it is not wasting time at all XFactor, Joy would expect a lot less to change provinces that what someone from Auckland would. Its not like Otago United has money or resources to work with.

 Waikato is Auckland C, other than last year Waikato has been made up of players that couldn't make it at Auckland City or Waitakere, they have already signed 3-4 players Auckland based players already this year. Either way it's still a yarn and won't be happening?