[1] Richard Murray The visit by the Wellington Phoenix to Dunedin provided enjoyable entertainment and a 2-0 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 Ricki Herbert invited the Otago coaches to attend a Phoenix training session, and afterwards talked to them about tactics and how to approach major games.
In a football world that abounds with foreign names and influences, it is gratifying that Kiwis are happy to share knowledge, and Herbert was more than happy to talk about 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 tomorrow.
Otago is on a roll, sitting third in the ASB Premiership, fresh from beating rival Canterbury, and only one loss registered in five matches.
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 league for the first time in its history.
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 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.
Otago 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, 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 try to maintain its high-energy pressing game against Auckland, but the win over Canterbury took its toll, and several limping wounded, including Matt Joy, Craig Ferguson, and Harley Rodeka, require late fitness assessments.
This will be Michael Cunningham's and Tom Connor's last match before leaving for Australia, so 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," Murray said.
"It's a wee while ago, but Otago did upset Auckland in the past, when Victor Maleb, our Vanuatu striker, scored in an upset 1-0 win. Perhaps Ant Hancock can do the same on Sunday at Kiwitea Street."
Otago v Auckland
- Auckland, tomorrow, 2pm
• Otago United: Oswaldo Rodriguez, Tristan Prattley (captain), Matt Joy, Morgan Day, Regan Coldicott, Ant Hancock, Sam Mepham, Darren Overton, Harley Rodeka, Matt Brook, Michael Cunningham, Peter Evans, Joel Stevens, Craig Ferguson, Tom Connor.
• Auckland City: Jacob Spoonley, Ian Hogg, Sam Campbell, Angel Berlanga, Chad Coombes, James Pritchett, David Mulligan, Luis Fonseca Corrales, Daniel Koprivcic, Alex Feneridis, Ivan Vicelich (captain), Adam Mcgeorge, Emiliano Tade, Andreu Guerao Mayoral, Andrew Milne, Stephen Carmichael, Liam Anderson, Thomas Doyle.
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