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2011-2012 SQUAD
While head
coach Neil Emblen has retained the nucleus of
last season’s successful squad, he has made a
few changes which promise to enhance the club’s
hopes of another good season culminating in
winning the Oceania Champions League.
Mindful of the
need to have two under-20 players in his listed
16 for every ASB Premiership match, Emblen has
made sure he is well-served in that department.
Luke Adams, Bill Tuiloma and Jordan Vale from
the New Zealand Under-17 team, along with Rory
Turner and James Debenham will be vying for
those spots when they are not playing for the
team who will be attempting to retain the ASB
Youth League title they won last season.
Other
youngsters from last season’s successful youth
side including Jack Hobson-McVeigh, Dakota
Lucas, Ashton Pett (to university in the US) and
Tim Payne (likely to be signed by Blackburn
Rovers) have moved on as have Liam Little (now
at Auckland City), Mike Gwyther, Ash Solly, Luiz
del Monte, Neil Sykes and Keegan Linderboom.
Emblen has
brought in, among others, Bay Olympic utility
Ross McKenzie, Solomon Island youngster Gagame
Feni and Ryan Zoghby from East Coast Bays
although his season appeared to be over before
it started when he was badly injured in
pre-season.
Emblen, now
forty-something, has made it clear his
preference is not to play this season but has
included himself on the O-League registrations
should that need arise. He and the club are
determined that a return to the FIFA Club World
Cup as Oceania’s top club should be at the top
of their “must do” list this season.
Not that they
are playing down the defence of their ASB
Premiership title.
Under the
shortened format – just 14 regular-season games
for the Minor Premiership – there is little room
for error. Waitakere are looking to repeat last
season’s effort when they stormed to a big early
lead and went on to win by six points from
perennial rivals Auckland City after losing just
twice.
In winning
both the minor premiership and then the Grand
Final, Waitakere emerged as the top club with
Allan Pearce winning the Golden Boot – the first
non-overseas player to do so. Pearce’s effort in
scoring 13 goals – the most by a player since
the league was reduced to 14 rounds – also won
him Player of the Year honours.
Emblen has
high hopes for a repeat effort from Pearce who
is again joined in an attacking role by Roy
Krishna, Ryan de Vries and Sean Lovemore.
He has a
settled midfield combination led by captain Jake
Butler with support from Chris Bale and Martin
Bullock while in defence Tim Myers and Jason
Rowley are seen as the established central
pairing with Adams, Aaron Scott and McKenzie
chasing the wide roles.
With Andy
Ralph happy rein back his week-by-week
involvement but still happy to take his place on
the bench, Danny Robinson will be first choice
goalkeeper.
Darren Bazeley
and Carl Jorgensen are back as Emblen’s
assistant with Gene Granger taking the
goalkeeper coaching responsibilities. |
