New Zealand Football Championship
Big Improvement from Otago...
Rab Smith
Otago United improved exponentially under
new coach Malcolm Fleming in this years New Zealand Football Championship campaign.
Perhaps tinged with some disappointment in marginally missing out on goal difference from achieving the NZFC top four play-offs, but Fleming can still be well satisfied with the teams statistics.
Under the new coach’s guidance, Otago better than doubled its haul of competition points from 8 in 2009, to 18 in 2010, and achieved a more balanced goal difference with minus 6, compared to minus 16 last season.
Certainly much better than the last four seasons languishing second 
bottom in the NZFC, except for 2006-07 when Otago actually finished last.
Adding flesh to statistics, Fleming’s team consistently played with an attacking mindset, and at its best, produced cultured passing movements that the long suffering Otago supporters really appreciated.
Purists will warmly remember the 3-1 home win as Otago dismantled Wellington at Carisbrook when goals by Dave Dugdale, Ryan Faichnie and Ben Light could have been doubled, such was Otago’s superiority.
In the return match in Wellington, Otago notched a notable double, and again showed its teeth to beat coach Stu Jacobs side 2-nil when Dugdale again got on the scorecard along with Dan Ede.
Some Otago supporters initially scratched their heads when reading 
Otago’s team list, since several players – the Faichnie’s, Ede’s and so on, were recruited from Christchuch, and were virtually unknown in Dunedin.
Historically Otago has always had to import players to field a balanced team capable of competing at the highest level, and in fact no team in the NZFC is without a bunch of imports.
Fleming’s master stroke was in knowing the quality of the players he signed from Christchurch, and convincing them to make the arduous drive south to Dunedin in a van every other Friday night.
To their credit the new players uncomplainingly logged up the miles, and more importantly, performed well on the field for Otago.
Comparing this group to some of the expensive duds and ‘has beens’ that Otago signed from overseas in previous years, the Christchurch crew were a breath of fresh air.
But what about local talent ? Otago still fielded its battle hardened campaigners such as Andy Coburn – approaching a hundred NZFC games played – team captain Tim Horner recently named Otago United Player of the Year, steady defender Mike Smith and a ‘young veteran’ in Tristan Prattley in his third consecutive season at top level.
Left fullback Prattley so impressed northern pundits that he was selected several times in the NZFC ‘Team of the Month’ in front of competition that included players of international status.
Otago’s playing squad included at least 13 players who turn out for Dunedin clubs in the winter Footballsouth Premier League.
As well as that group, there is the homegrown United U20 side which competes at top level in the National Youth League.
Fleming said,’ If there is one small disappointment, it’s that not more of Otago’s better young players did not take up the challenge, and come to our training sessions from the start.’
‘ The door was always open, and to play and train with top players is the only way for good youngsters to improve. Some did come along, but some chose not to bother.’ he said.
However Fleming sees the National Youth League as a good platform for ambitious players to be seen further north where geographical bias has 
been known to ignore players in the deep south.
Caversham keeper James Waggett was named United’s Young Player of the Year, and clearly deserved the award. His sharp reflexes and agility were an integral part of Otago’s defence.
Captain Horner was just that.
When required, he drove the team forward demanding maximum effort, and was coolness personified in defence where he was supreme in the air. 
Another aerial expert was Chris Jenkinson. Unfortunately the Englishman had to return home in December, but his contribution was superb, and had he stayed, who knows how far Otago might have gone.
Fleming also ‘blooded’ several young players this season. Youngsters are rare in the NZFC but Morgan Day, Cam Burns, Tom Connor, Harley Rodeka, and Dave Shaw were among those exposed to the intensity of top football.
As a combined venture, Otago United gets almost no financial support from participating clubs, which is a great pity.
Canterbury financially levies all its footballers to provide a basic cash flow. Perhaps the time is ripe for a move in that direction.
If each club paid in advance for 20, 30, or 40 season tickets, they could recoup by selling the tickets to club members - doubly supporting Otago with finance and bums on seats.
Christchurch's English park – which is soon to be covered in artificial turf, regularly attracts crowds of 800 to urge their team onwards. Otago would average under 200.
United’s administration has yet to find out whether its entry for NZFC 2010-2011 has been accepted, and while an enlarged 10 team competition is expected, that too has still to be confirmed.
Negotiations are now in progress regarding Fleming’s future with Otago, and while the coach has not yet been appointed for next year, he has definite ideas and timelines he would prefer if appointed.
Otago United squad : James Waggett (GK), Mike Abbott, Tristan Prattley, Dave Shaw, Mike Smith, Tom Sadd, Stu Kelly, Robbie Deeley, Ryan Faichnie, Dave Dugdale, Andy Coburn, James Reichwein, Cameron Burns (GK) Tom Connor, Morgan Day, Tim Horner, Nathan Knox, Ben Light, Rhys Henderson, Harley Rodeka, Dave Shaw, James Watson, Mike Still,
Otago United scorers (3) Nathan Knox (3) Stu Kelly (3) Dan Ede (3) Dave Dugdale (2) Ben Light (1) Robbie Deely (1) Ryan Faichnie
NZFC table |
P |
W |
D |
L |
For |
Ag |
GD |
Pts |
Waitakere |
13 |
8 |
2 |
3 |
27 |
20 |
7 |
26 |
Auckland |
11 |
7 |
4 |
0 |
23 |
7 |
16 |
25 |
Canterbury |
12 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
21 |
11 |
10 |
18 |
Wellington |
13 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
20 |
23 |
-3 |
18 |
Otago |
14 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
16 |
22 |
-6 |
18 |
H. Bay |
13 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
17 |
21 |
-4 |
15 |
Manawatu |
13 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
15 |
23 |
-8 |
13 |
Waikato |
13 |
3 |
1 |
9 |
17 |
29 |
-12 |
10 |
Southern Conference Standings
Yth Lg |
P |
W |
D |
L |
For |
Ag |
GD |
Pts |
Canterbury |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
1 |
14 |
12 |
Wellington |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
7 |
Otago |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
-2 |
4 |
Manawatu |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
16 |
-15 |
0 |
