ASB National League
Dunedin, 2011-12

Kiwi Collective versus Auckland
Rab Smith

The Wellington Phoenix visit to Dunedin provided enjoyable entertainment, a 2-nil win over Brisbane, and also gave Otago United coaches Richard Murray and Andy Duncan a glimpse of top level team preparation and tactics.

Phoenix coach Ricky Herbert invited the Dunedin coaches to attend a Phoenix training session, ‘ and afterwards, we had a long chat about tactics and how to approach big games,’ said Otago coach Murray.

In a football world that abounds with foreign names and influences, its gratifying that Kiwis are happy to share knowledge and Herbert was more than happy to talk out realistic targets.

The patience and discipline shown by Herbert’s Phoenix in absorbing Brisbane’s vastly superior ball possession, could be a pointer towards Otago’s tactics for Auckland City on Sunday.

Otago is on a roll just now. Third in the ASB Premiership, fresh from beating rival Canterbury, and in five matches only one loss registered.

ASB	P	W	D	L	For	Ag	GD	Pts
Auckland	4	4	0	0	17	4	13	12
Waitakere	5	4	0	1	16	5	11	12
Otago	5	3	1	1	8	10	-2	10
Canterbury	5	3	0	2	10	4	6	9
Wellington	5	1	1	3	8	9	-1	4
H. Bay	4	1	1	2	5	7	-2	4
Waikato	5	1	0	4	5	18	-13	3
Manawatu	5	0	1	4	5	17	-12	1

 

Murray’s team may need oxygen to continue at that level, and it is a blue and gold flavoured statistic that a win over Auckland could send Otago top of the ASB league for the first time ever.

But clinical bookmakers rate Otago as rank outsiders at $9 for a win, and so they should, considering Auckland’s pedigree, having just returned from competing in the FIFA World Club Championship in Japan.

In contrast to the homegrown Otago squad, Auckland has a swag of exotic names such as  Argentinean Emiliano Tade and Luis Corrales  The club also has Angel Berlanga, Manuel Exposito, Albert Riera and  midfielder Andreu Guerao from Polish club Polonia Warsaw, plus coach Ramon Tribulietx.

Coach Richard Murray believes in giving local talent the chance to shine. A lot of these boys just needed the opportunity,” he said. “Morgan Day ( pic below, bandaged but still battling ), for example, had only had bits of games before but he’s now had four in a row and he’s getting better and better with time on the paddock.

Otago will of course try to maintain its high energy style pressing game against Auckland, but the win over Canterbury took its toll, with several limping wounded, including Matt Joy, Craig Ferguson, and Harley Rodeka  requiring late fitness assessments.

This will be Mike Cunningham’s and Tom Connor’s last match before leaving for Australia so coach Murray is looking for a big farewell game from both, and from key players Darren Overton and Justin Prattley.

‘ But regardless of individuals, we’ll need to operate as a hard working team. Fire on all cylinders, and try to unsettle the Auks,’ said Murray.’

‘ It’s a wee while ago, but Otago did upset Auckland in the past, when Victor Maleb our Vanuatu striker scored in an upset 1-nil win. Perhaps Ant Hancock can do the same on Sunday at Kiwitea Street.’

And Darren Overton's good form has won him a place in the
National League Team of the Week :

ASB Premiership Team of the Month – October/November

1.             Danny ROBINSON GK           (Waitakere)
2.             Aaron CLAPHAM (Canterbury United)
3.             Ian HOGG (Auckland City)
4.             Tom SCHWARZ (Canterbury United)
5.             Ivan VICELICH (Auckland City)
6.             Darren OVERTON (Otago United)
7.             David MULLIGAN (Auckland City)
8.             Allan PEARCE (Waitakere United)
9.             Manel EXPOSITO (Auckland City)
10.          George SLEFENDORFAS (Canterbury )
11.          Jake BUTLER (Waitakere United)

Otago squad for Auckland : Oswaldo RODRIGUEZ (GK), 3- Tristan PRATTLEY (c), 5- Matt JOY, 6-Morgan DAY, 7-Regan COLDICOTT, 9- Ant HANCOCK, 14- Sam MEPHAM, 15- Darren OVERTON, 18- Harley RODEKA,20- Matt BROOK,  21- Michael CUNNINGHAM, 22- Peter EVANS (GK), 23- Joel STEVENS, 25- Craig FERGUSON, 27- Tom CONNOR.

Auckland Squad: 1-Jacob SPOONLEY (GK), 3-Ian HOGG, 4- Sam CAMPBELL,  5-Angel BERLANGA, 6- Chad COOMBES, 7- James PRITCHETT, 8- David MULLIGAN, 10- Luis FONSECA CORRALES, 11-Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 13-Alex FENERIDIS, 15- Ivan VICELICH (c), 17- Adam McGEORGE, 20- Emiliano TADE, 21- Andreu GUERAO MAYORAL, 22- Andrew MILNE, 24- Stephen CARMICHAEL, 26-Liam ANDERSON (GK)(A), 27- Thomas DOYLE.