Nick Goodall Watch

Unfortunately North Wellington equalised while IBU were temporarily down to 10 men after a stray elbow produced a profusely bleeding nose to CB Nick Goodall.

Should have asked Brooks for bandaging tips.

Ha, has Nick ever been part of a team that doesn't take the piss out of him?

'Island Bay created a multitude of chances in the first half and really should have been 3 up in the first 20 minutes. Alas it took an ageing bald centre back to show the attackers where the back of the net was, as Nick Goodall got on end of a great cross from Sumit Kumar to score a tremendous headed goal.'

Better get this post in this week (just in case) ...

I've talked about this on here before, but one more time won't hurt.

A great pre-season bet - Nick, full of hope in the Nix's form and exciting new signings, laid down the challenge - if the Nix won the A-league I would have to stop supporting the mighty Victory and become a season-ticket holder for the Nix (sounds like one of Morgan's stupid marketing campaigns ...). Couldn't believe that Nick accepted my return challenge - if the Victory win he returns to the Stallions. A huge call for the Vice President of a club to make (and here he is receiving a 'Good Sorts' award for all his volunteer work for the club.)

I'm from a long tradition of wrestling appreciation - where bets like retirement matches and masks vs hair matches are a source of pride and honour, and the loser (especially those who made the bet) must follow through - even more so with the Nix getting the old wooden spoon. I would have been in line to buy the season ticket the day after the final, honest.

So a couple of questions. After the Victory win the A-league, firstly:

- Do we even want Nick in this team? I mean we have come a long way since he was prancing around in the centre of defence (and do I have to bring up the 'I missed the penalty because the ball hit duck shit' moment?).

- Should the Stallions enforce this bet? As much as I would love to, even I might not be that much of a f**ker. So the question becomes - what is an alternative penalty for Nick?

We could look short term and demand some beers delivered for an upcoming game? Perhaps more long term - and say he must return to the Stallions within 3 years? or perhaps the humilation route - he must wear a pink pony headband/armband for every game this season (with photo evidence provided on the blog).

Any other ideas?

And Go the Victory!

Oh yeah, and just to show how annoying he is, from the tweet stream of Victory's last game. I guess supporting a team like the Nix you forget that teams can actually you know score goals and win games from bad positions.

Nick Goodall ‏@energy247nz 5 Apr

@heelturn how are your Melbourne bumboys going?

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Nick Goodall ‏@energy247nz 5 Apr

@heelturn oh fuck. Ignore last tweet

\

From the 'believe it or not' file

Island Bay United Association Football Club ‎Nick Goodall rounded off a fighting comeback for the Reserves as they clawed back a 3 nil deficit at half time to draw 3-3 with Wellington United at Shark Park. A tepid first half was dramatically turned around in the second, with Ryan Du Plessis and David Rutherford notching the first 2 goals before Nick finished it off about 3 minutes from time.

Come on Nick, tell us all about it.

Nick G

Egg

So anyone keen to watch Nick's season debut at Te Whaea tomorrow night-7.45? Could be good value, a couple of sneaky drinks, watch Nick get yelled at, slip in duck crap. I'm pretty sure that any viewing would be weather dependent, but I'd be up for it if others were ...

Bonus points for anyone who can identify the Stallions unlucky enough to be flanking Nick in this photograph.

Nick G, classy as ever

 

'Steve, or any other Olympic lads, how's the boy who got his teeth smashed?  I was the other player and have just got back from the hospital with 7 staples in my head.  The doc pulled out about 8 small bits of teeth from my wound!'

 

 

looks like we might not have to give nick g the 'thanks, but no thanks' next season

Here's nick in the yf forum:

'I don't believe we (Island Bay) aren't good enough for Cap 1 (And we certainly aren't/haven't been struggling)

We have done alright in what was a very close league the whole way through. Other then the Dreamers who outplayed us twice, we matched every team in the grade. We drew nil nil with Marist, then lost 1 nil. And lost 1 nil to Olympic in a game where we had numerous chances and as their coach mentioned afterwards we probably should've won. We also beat Petone twice who sit fourth.

Of course the fact we came ninth means we didn't do great but we went through a rebuilding year with plenty of changes from the previous year so with a season under our belts I have no doubt we will mount a serious challenge for the title next year.'

Just joshing nick, congrats on making the step up, we have been keeping a close eye on your season, and have noticed a distinct drop in our fines. So you going to ditch us for twilight too?

Everyone hates an angry stats man ...

... and i don't mean you Greg!

Soccer stallions, remember how last season Nick G would always rock up on a Saturday with crazy bits of analysis and stats about our performances, positions, opposition etc. Always a bit of a mystery to me - but his recent rants on the YF website have provide a bit of a clue to the inner workings of that mighty football brain. Here he is chiming in with some stats and almost starting a war about who is the Phoenix's best keeper. Go on Energy24.7:

It starts on pg 3 of the MOM thread vs Newcastle Jets

He then starts his own thread with an angry emicon which is really just a self-portrait

Interesting analysis (not at all 'lumbering' as one respondent puts it) - but something was nagging away that I had heard this all before - and then it came clear - substitute Paston for Ben B and Moss for Jamie and we return to the end of last season with out goalkeeper dilemma.This is the system whereby he worked out who should play when. In this thread he almost pulls out the classic line used in the Stallions debate - Ben B has the advantage in that he does not have to keep when Ben B is in defence (in fairness that gem may have come from ben himself).

Love you work stats man, you will be missed ...

The pinacle of profiles apparently ...

Umm, no.

Nick G

Position:
Centre Back but Sweeper is my favourite coz I can be lazy – let my mouth do all the work.

Stallion Hall of Fame:
Hmmm, not much.
Took on manager/coach/captain or whatever you call trying to organise you lot in only second year in team.
Loudest mouth.
Most fines 2007 (I think – 60 odd bucks!).

How many seasons as a Stallion?
This is number 3 and looking like being the best!

Are you a dual Stallion? If so what game are you best at?
Yip, but only a cricket ring in, when the missus allows or is away.
Well, I’ve never had the sort of feat achieved in one game last season for the Cricket Stallions in Football, bagging a 5 for (after only coming in at about the 30th over – bloody Graham!), taking a stumping and scoring a quick fire 14 at the tail end including a 6 over point.
But my consistency in football probably points toward that being my stronger code. If only I could get forward a bit more to slot home a few more goals…

Greatest Stallion Moment?
Becoming a Stallion!
Nah, yet to be had I hope (the league this year?), though notching my first goal for quite a while last year was good and avoiding relegation “Fulhamesque” style at the death was a big relief.

Worst Stallion Moment?
No doubt my missed penalty against Petone Dreamers this year. After nailing our comp before the game, I nonchalantly strolled up once it was awarded and proceeded to absolutely duff it, scuffing the ground as the ball dribbled to the keeper. Best chance for it to go in was if the keeper missed it after being unable to contain his laughter.
Also any goal Nick W or Aaron scores.

Describe your last goal for the Stallions.
(I’ve been hanging out for this question – brace yourselves)
An absolute peach against the quality Stokes Valley last year (up at KP for a rare match nonetheless).
On one of my trademark runs up front, I typically unselfishly laid the ball off to one of our strikers, but amazingly I actually got it back this time after the SV defender shanked a clearance. The ball fell to me outside the box on the right hand side, where I casually took a touch, fed it to my favoured right foot and slammed the ball into the inside of the left side netting of the goal. The keeper never had a chance! Almost the best thing was even after SV had kicked back off I was still in celebration mode and as they hoofed the ball up field I did the most unnecessary diving header to clear the ball, you can’t say I’m not a crowd pleaser!!!!

Complete the sentence - As a player I am susceptible to...
Being lazy and demanding everyone else do more work than me,
The odd glaring shocker, and a bit of ref/opposition abuse.

Most under-rated Stallion?
Willie Bleakley, we seem to have sorted our striker issues out but there’s always room for the little energiser bunny who never gave opposition defences a rest (even when he was hung-over as shite!).

Finish this sentence. The Stallions need more…
Mongrel, lets get some fights going…
(No, not really – behave you loose cannons)

We need more belief in ourselves and trust in our team mates (what a boring answer).

Which international player are you most like?
I love ze Germans with their rock solid defence and love to think I’m like Ballack in midfield (minus penalty taking ability) but realistically I’m more like Ryan Nelsen – a solid defender who likes to organise (okay not quite realistic – he’s always injured!).

Where will the Stallions finish in 2008?
Top 3, but if we are in it nearing the end of the season when we should be peaking we can take top spot from Marist or the Sealords.

Talking the talk ...

Look at our captain stirring up a bit of pre-match animosity with the league-toppers - I like it a lot.

F**ked Polls

My poll theory has hit a problem - once someone has voted the options can not be edited, so new options can not be added. Still a good idea, but it will mean weekly votes are required if new candidates present themselves. So this week, possibly no goal for the best of the season (?), but have added Tristin's anyway just too see - which means Robin's zero-vote header which was clearly crap has dropped off. Of course Goodall's penalty 'effort' has offered itself as a new candidate for pony moment of the season.

For those not there, let me elaborate:

Pregame - Ben B suggests a penalty competition for a bit of a warm up (strange, he never moved - hardly a warmup). Started promising, with Ben H immediately blasting one about 10 metres to the left. Jason's chip effort was a thing of beauty. Nick G moved through the rounds, coolly slotting a couple of great ones, and commenting that with Patrick away he would take any penalties. Through all this there was a lot of laughter as Stallions regularly and spectacularly missed, as Petone wryly observed the cowboys they were gonna play. The box of beers sitting on the sideline guarded by a toy stallion and mylittlepony probably assisted in this illusion.

As Corey has stated, about 10 mins a handball in the Petone box leads to a pen (the ball ended up in the back of the net, and I'm sure the ref said lets just call it advantage and give the goal, but Nick still floating after his pre-game penalty victory virtually begged to take it - he denies this.)

Needless to say Nick steps up and totally blows it - we ain't talking Beckham blasting it above the bar or Ronaldo hitting the post, this was a slow, slow dribble - which the 55 year old reserve keeper managed to fall over and wait to collect it.

You can now vote for this as pony moment - much worse than any of the other contenders!