It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Southern United this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Francis Barbarouses was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Ruon Tongyik and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
He is not being dropped. There is simply nowhere in the formation Team Wellington are playing to put a man who does what he does, which is a harder thing to be told than any team sheet.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Southern United, and it is not being withdrawn.
Everything agreed with Hawke's Bay United, everything agreed with the player; a doctor is the only person left to persuade. The photograph is a day or two away.
Hawke's Bay United wanted more than $120.0K and the board would not go there. Walked away, for now, which in a transfer window means until somebody blinks.
Noah Just was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Auckland City have been asked whether they would lend him. Loans are agreed quickly or not at all, and this one will be one or the other by the weekend.
$72.0K on the table at Auckland City. The manager wanted him, the board agreed a number, and the only voices still to be heard are the ones at the other club.
Ruon Tongyik was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Canterbury United have kept their man, and Team Wellington go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Corey Hollman was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Ryan Rufer and Team Wellington agree another 4 years.
Every shape has positions in it and this one does not have his. Team Wellington will either change the shape, change his job, or change his club, and he is waiting to hear which.
The offer from Waitakere United for Jake Lewis was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
The last thing about a transfer that is still about the player is his signature on his own terms, and it is there. Southern United have lost him in all but the paperwork.
Southern United have gone to Hawke's Bay United with a bid, and the supporters have gone to the internet with an opinion about it. Whether either changes anything is up to the selling club.
The offer went to Auckland City this week and it is theirs to answer. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loud the door closes.
Winston Boxall and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Canterbury United have kept their man, and Southern United go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
“The easiest signature of my career.” a squad player and Southern United agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Everything agreed with Southern United, everything agreed with the player; a doctor is the only person left to persuade. The photograph is a day or two away.
Willem Ebbinge was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Southern United have kept their man, and Team Wellington go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
The system has changed and his position has not. A footballer can improve his form; he cannot improve the manager’s formation, and that is the whole of the problem.
A season-long look at somebody else’s player: Sam Waine arrives from Canterbury United with something to prove and a return ticket in the drawer. Good loans make everybody richer; this one starts Saturday.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Southern United, and it is not being withdrawn.
Winston Boxall was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. a squad player is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Southern United has been clear about where Bill Garbett stands, which is more than many ever get.