This team needs to do better

Waikato FC report card

BY MATT RICHENS

Waikato FC have again disappointed in the New Zealand Football Championship. They again had to find a last-minute replacement as a coach and again did not push for a playoff spot.

While Auckland City, Waitakere United, Team Wellington and Canterbury United fight off for the competition title in the next few weeks, it's review time for Waikato.

Here are some thoughts on the team's performance for the season.

What the coach says

Che Bunce (player-coach)

"It's a good question. I'm reluctant to start with a word like disappointing, but we did finish bottom of the table. It was a season of missed opportunities and I think the players showed enough at times to show we weren't a bottom-of-the-league team. And we had some good young players coming through and there was huge development."

What the captain says

Shaun van Rooyen

"You have to say it was disappointing, you can't say it was a good season when we came last. I guess a positive is using lots of local players and that's got to be a good thing for the region."

What the chairman says

Charlie Panakera

"Our strategy for this year was to develop a Waikato-based team and consistently use our own players that can be retained for the next two to three years. That strategy came with some risks, like finishing on the bottom of the table, but we were prepared to take those risks. And if you look at some of the losses, they weren't big losses, we played some good football."

What The Times says

Yes the locals got more of a show than they have in the past, but last is not acceptable. For too long Waikato FC and general Waikato football fans have had to put up with "bad luck" at the start of the season and poor results. Something needs to be done to overhaul what is happening at the club now.

The first steps have been taken on the park with more local players turning out, but they need to be better. That will come with more work off the pitch before the season starts.

Improved coaching, facilities and general infrastructure are a must because those who aren't already sick of the "woe is me, we're doing as well as we can with a limited budget" excuses, soon will be.

Winning the competition is a long way away, but turning around a series of poor seasons and fighting for a playoff spot doesn't have to be.

That's exactly what both Otago United and Canterbury United have done this season.

And if the people involved don't want to make changes, then the people involved need to change.

Local talent

One of the goals of the season for Waikato was to give the side a more local focus. Arguably, it was the only goal they achieved and the only thing they can crow about. Young goalkeeper Alex Carr showed he is a real talent for the future though it is unclear whether playing a 16-year-old in goal against some of the best strikers in the country will have a positive long-term affect on his game.

Taupo's Mark Jones earned regular starting time, but while he started his season with a hiss and a roar, he is far from the polished article and needs more attention over the winter season than he will get from just working with Wanderers' first team.

Jones, Carr, Alex Barlow, Liam Phillips, Adam Wallis and Tewi Te Pou are players that, if treated properly, will make the nucleus of the Waikato FC teams of the future. But leaving them alone for six months to play winter football and nothing else is a waste of talent.

Waikato FC need to build on the experience these players already have with specialised coaching. Two winter trainings a week with club teams does not cut it and is a wasted opportunity.

Best moment

Coming from 2-0 down to score three second-half goals and beat YoungHeart Manawatu 3-2 in Palmerston North.

Worst moment

Being ambushed by a classy Auckland City and losing 5-0 in the opening round of the competition in October.

GOLDEN BOOT

Michael Gwyther topped Waikato FC's goal scoring race with five goals over the 14-game season.

- © Fairfax NZ News