European Football Review

So another wacky season of European club football comes to an end and this season has been wackier and more exciting than ever whether it was 2 horse races or well another 2 horse race.

In Spain, the La Liga title race resembled the Scottish Premier League albeit with more quality than the Scots can ever imagine. Real Madrid ultimately triumphed because they were just that bit more consistent than the equally impressive Barcelona and scored a ton of points this season. It was such a shame that they didn't face off for the Champions League title in Munich although it could be the reality check that might work well for the Spaniards in those teams.

The relegation battle in Spain was as intense as ever with relegated Villarreal scoring 40 points, usually enough for survival. Yes, Villarreal got relegated in the same season they played in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Unbelievable, huh? In fact, the conclusion to their season was very Man City like but not in a very good way for them as they were still safe in injury time until highly unfancied Rayo Vallecano scored a dramatic winner against Granada to seal their Premiera status.

Malaga and Valencia took the other Champions League spots while Atletico Madrid, Levante and Athletic Bilbao will playing Europa League football next season.

In Germany, it was yet another two-horse race, with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund although it was the northerners who romped away at the finish while Bayern Munich ended up with nothing after taking the early lead. Borussia Dortmund appear to have wrested the psychological advantage that Bayern Munich had over them in previous seasons; Dortmund beat Bayern 1-0 both at home and away and 5-2 in the German Cup Final.

Meanwhile, Hertha Berlin yo-yo'd itself back down to the 2.Fussball-Bundesliga. Having won on the last day to guarantee at least a second chance against promotion chasing Fortuna Duesseldorf, they choked completely and once again Berlin is without a top-flight football team just as its rival, London is finally enjoying overdue European Cup glory.

By the way, Fortuna have a rather impressive looking stadium so teams should look forward to going there. Their nearby rivals, Borussia Moenchengladbach will be hoping that the likes of Man United or Real Madrid will look forward to going to their stadium should they succeed in their UEFA Champions League play-off - a remarkable turnaround for the usual relegation battlers courtesy of a young Marco Reus, who earned himself a call-up to the national mannschaft.

In Italy, yes, you guessed it was another two horse race between Juventus and AC Milan although Juventus looked pretty comfortable all the way and ended the season unbeaten - quite a remarkable record really that has been surprisingly overlooked amidst the hype around the Premier League and La Liga.

Naturally, Juventus won their first Scudetto since their return to the top flight after the match-fixing saga of 2006. It was a triumphant farewell for outgoing legend, Alessandro del Piero, a triumphant welcome for the new Juventus Stadium and a triumphant debut for coach, Antonio Conte. Now one wonders what they will do in this mood in the Champions League next season - I think Premier League clubs may have to worry about another club besides Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Udinese grabbed the final Champions League spot - yes there were only 3 this season, a sign of the times that Italian football isn't what it was, and you might have noticed how Germany got ahead of Italy here.

Elsewhere, quick congratulations to Zenit St Petersburg, Ajax Amsterdam, Galatasaray, Porto, Anderlecht, Cluj and Celtic on becoming champions of their respective countries this season. Woohoo.

And go Motherwell for next season as they somehow try to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League - crikey if they do it, it'll be one heck of an achievement.

Finally, in France, Montpellier caused the mother of all upsets by winning their maiden title on a dramatic and often-interrupted final day - or rather night as all the games were played at night. They beat wealthy, wealthy PSG by 3 points and yes, it wasn't a three horse race as Lille were in the hunt too, getting a Champions League spot for all their troubles. Golly, didn't think French football had its hooligans but obviously what do I know? Auxerre, the club Montpellier had to beat to win the title, got relegated - a surprise really as they were in the Champions League not too long ago!

So for most footballers who aren't playing for some country in Europe, summer is here and it's time to hang up the boots and relax and enjoy what should be a bumper summer before pre-season starts again proper.

But well done to the champions, well done to those who survived and well done to those who made it to the financial riches of the Champions League!

2 Minutes - 21 May (Last Regular One for a While!)

My last 2 Minutes in Malaysia and last regular one for a while.. What have I got to say about myself?

A Professional Name?

People change their names from time to time - not that frequently for guys anyway, unless you're the basketballer once known as Ron Artest, now known as Metta World Peace (psshh) or NFL wide receiver, Chad Ochocinco, who was once Chad Johnson (to be honest I actually like Ochocinco and actually thought that was his original surname).

By the way before I continue, I must warn you that this particular blog entry is going to be highly un-PC so don't say I didn't warn you that you'd be offended.

Of course, women change their names all the time, i.e. their surnames once they get married. Like most places, it is quite a Kiwi tradition for the married wife to take her husband's surname.

Which is perfectly fine of course in all circumstances. Just it's a bit of a pain if you're a professional athlete or musician and your name does actually have some financial value or provides recognition.

The one big gripe I've always had with netball is the sudden appearance of this player whose name I can't recognise only to realize that she just got married and had just changed her surname.

Let's look at some familiar Silver Ferns from the top of my head.

Anna Scarlett
Adine Harper
Anna Rowberry
Lesley Nicol
Liana Barrett-Chase
Julie Dawson
Irene van Dyk
Jodi Te Huna
Donna Loffhagen

I tried wikipedia searching them and well couldn't find them bar Irene van Dyk.. Turns out they're now...

Anna Scarlett is now Anna Harrison
Adine Harper - Adine Wilson (Jeff Wilson's wife as it turns out)
Anna Rowberry - Anna Stanley
Lesley Nicol - Lesley Rumball
Liana Barrett-Chase - Liana Leota (Manawatu centre Johnny Leota's wife)
Julie Dawson - Julie Seymour (Dallas Seymour's wife)
Jodi Te Huna - Jodi Brown
Donna Loffhagen - Donna Wilkins

Now I have absolutely nothing against them getting married - and I should offer my congratulations to Anna Harrison who just got married during the 2012 ANZ Championship by the way. But when their name kinda matters in their career, should they still be known as their name before their marriage?

I'm thinking of Kiwi singer, Brooke Fraser, the daughter of former All Black, Bernie. Brooke is actually now legally known as Brooke Ligertwood - and she is known by her married name when she record songs for Hillsong Church in Australia. However, Brooke still uses her maiden name for her own labels simply because she was Brooke Fraser at the start of her music career - and it just would be troublesome I think too to have to stop and rebuild your music career over your name change. Plus in my opinion, having the option of using her married name enables her to maintain some anonymity too.

Then there's Bernice Mene who is married to former NZ cricketer, Dion Nash. She's still very much known as Bernice Mene as she was in her netballing career - although I'm not entirely sure she's changed her surname to Nash (legally she probably is a Nash). At least there is some consistency and familiarity there.

Should netballers still be known by the names they started their careers with even when they get married? In my opinion, they should be for the commentators' and sponsors' sake whilst maintaining their correct legal name, i.e. using their alias on the court - professional name just like Hollywood actors, e.g. Angelina Jolie who is legally Angelina Voight, Charlie Sheen who was legally Carlos Estevez.

I'm not saying they shouldn't be allowed to change their names until they hang up their bib - in fact, they should do whatever they want. I'm just suggesting the idea of using a professional name in netball alongside the usual legal names.

That's just my opinion really.

Can Big Sam Keep the Hammers in the Premier League?

After a season away from the big time, West Ham United are back in the Premier League. There is no doubt they are one of the biggest clubs in English football and that a transfer to Upton Park is one of the most attractive for a footballer this side of the top 4.

However, years of mismanagement since that season they made the FA Cup Final, meant that the Hammers slowly deteriorated and found themselves so often teetering on the brink of relegation. That threat finally became reality last year after a dismal 2010-11 season. The dull and depressing-looking Avram Grant was given his marching orders and in came Sam Allardyce, requested to rebuild the club's spine and take it back to the Premier League where they belonged.

For much of last season, West Ham looked like they would go back to the Premier League easily. But wobbles late in the season meant they lost out to Reading and Southampton and had to endure a gruelling playoff series to determine if they would make a quick return to the Premier League which they navigated successfully albeit just.

Blackpool proved their worth in a one-off do-or-die game like they did when they last made the Premier League and played the more attractive football but just couldn't quite put their chances away. For traditional Hammers fans, Blackpool were the real Academy of Football.

Alas, it's goals that get you through and West Ham worked hard to get their winner, exploiting Blackpool's deficiencies at the back. Yes it wasn't pretty but will they be complaining once they get their 90 million pound paycheck next season? I doubt it.

In fact, West Ham fans can stand to learn a lot from Newcastle fans who like them, also crave sexy, attractive football. When Alan Pardew came in, that was placed on the backburner quite controversially but it was evident that Pardew was trying to build the foundations for a very good team: a strong midfield and defence. Once Newcastle established that, they started to get better and play some good football as they almost made the Champions League. Are Toon fans complaining anymore? Only those crazy ones like that crazy Cleveland Indians fan in Major League.

West Ham appear to have now got the foundations for a team that should be mid-table at least in the Premier League. All Whites defender Winston Reid has now gotten used to the pace of the English team. Now, Reid has the chance to redeem himself and prove he is a Premier League player after a shocking debut two years ago. He has got the talented James Tomkins to back him up. However, Big Sam will probably still go for another centre-back this summer - hopefully not Roger Johnson or Scott Dann please.

The midfield is also rather good too with Kevin Nolan likely to captain the team into the Premier League alongside long-time Hammer, Mark Noble. The Hammers do appear to have a good strike force in Carlton Cole, Nicky Maynard who is hoping to mimic the exploits of Grant Holt and Danny Graham, Ricardo vaz Te, the former Bolton trainee will be out to show his talents in the Premier League after fighting his way back from injury.

So Hammers to replicate the efforts of Norwich and Swansea last season - I think we may see a repeat of last season where all promoted sides stay up. Which will make it yet another interesting Premier League season from positions 10 downwards.

Chelsea, Chelsea! Chelsea, Chelsea!

I just wonder if I should bother putting up the team of the Champions League this season given that a lot of the form players didn't even feature in the centrepiece Final. Much as Didier Drogba was the man of the match, his poultry goal tally this season doesn't even compare to the likes of Messi, Ronaldo and even Bayern's Gomez who would be my forwards of the year, even if admittedly he showed a bit more bottle than the two best players in the world.

It just shows you how crazy, exciting and unpredictable this edition of the UEFA Champions League has been and why I'm actually a bit glad it hasn't been totally dominated by the Premier League clubs as it has been in recent times.

Heck, at one stage, it seemed that this was going to be the worst Champions League for Premier League clubs in a long time when both Manchester clubs crashed out in the group stages and Arsenal and Chelsea who were both struggling domestically at the time were left to fly the flag. Chelsea's latest triumphs over Barcelona and Bayern Munich have certainly made me sit down and put my gun away.

It's a huge credit then to Roberto di Matteo really that Chelsea have been able to master such a remarkable and unbelievable turnaround that suddenly turns Chelsea's season into a rather successful one. After all, even the Special One couldn't win the Champions League for Real Madrid and Chelsea.

By the way, Chelsea's handsome trophy win means that Tottenham are sadly out of the Champions League and no English clubs will have to take part in a two-match playoff to make the group stages next season.

Anyway to the Final of course and it was hard to believe from the first half that Chelsea would be victors. In fact even as late as the 80th minute, it was hard to pick anyone but Bayern to win given the amount of possession, territory and shots on goal that they had. Yet, despite dominating the stats, the Germans weren't dominating where it mattered on the scoreboard thanks to some profligate finishing. Eventual goalscorer, Thomas Mueller, was guilty of missing plenty of clear-cut goal scoring opportunities.

It beggared the thought that the club often known as FC Hollywood were being their usual arrogant selves thinking they could afford to miss a few sitters knowing the one that would hit the back of the net would come. Or maybe the pressure of playing in front of their home fans in their swanky new stadium had engulfed the usually stoic players.

Nevertheless, when Mueller scored, most would have thought the game was dead and buried. Then out of nowhere, Drogba stepped up to score the most important goal of his life that would send the game to extra-time once again.

Drogba has been a lucky charm for Chelsea and will be sorely missed when he goes. Even the penalties he concedes have been pretty safe - Messi's and Robben's all unsuccessful in the last two games after Drogba had conceded the original penalties. He duly repaid the luck factory kindly, slamming home the penalty that would send the Champions League trophy to a London trophy cabinet for the first time ever.

As I said, Chelsea could either go out and play or park the bus in front of the Bayern goal. Once left back Ryan Bertrand was asked to play at left midfield ahead of Florent Malouda, you could guess what Chelsea's tactics were going to be. Mind you, they did play the role of spoiler so well even with all those chances Bayern had. And they could switch quickly to a more attacking formation to get that goal very easily.

Again, it was a masterclass from Roberto di Matteo who must surely get the Chelsea job now. Even if for some inexplicable reason he doesn't, he can forever look back on this bright spot of his emerging managerial career with a smile.

Whether di Matteo gets the job or not, Chelsea will be facing quite a radical cleanout of players this summer. Cech, Terry and Lampard should be there but there are question marks over the futures of Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda who may have played their last games in the Final - if so, what a way to go out. Players like Ryan Bertrand and Josh McEachran will be key to Chelsea's future and the club will be hoping to add Eden Hazard in the summer to support Juan Mata and create two attacking flankers.

But for now, much of SW1 can enjoy this triumph that has come at the most unexpected time just like a girlfriend. Even Liverpool fans should be impressed with the way Chelsea performed in the Final - it was heroic and not too dissimilar from the way Liverpool played in their Final in 2005.

So well done Chelsea and good luck RDM! By the way thanks for AVB!

2 Minutes - 20 May (A Special Soccer Edition)

A look back at the Champions League Final, West Ham's promotion and is AVB the right man to answer the SOS call at Anfield?

Are the Warriors Off to the Garden of Eden?

It has emerged in recent days that the Warriors may not be based at Mount Smart in the near future. The Auckland Council is currently reviewing its sports venues in the city and is looking to try and consolidate its facilities so that they can make a profit out of them.

Sources: http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-sport/6933935/Warriors-could-clash-with-speedway-at-Mt-Smart

In fact one of the options mooted for the Warriors' current home is the construction of a speedway track at Mount Smart Stadium, the Warriors' only home ground in their history not including one-off games taken nationwide. This speedway would in effect replace Western Springs Speedway.

That would require quite a bit of work as the current layout of the stadium doesn't allow  for a speedway track. However, would the Warriors allow a speedway to be built at Mount Smart? Or rather would the Auckland Council want the Warriors based at Mount Smart, and have them based at the city's premier football stadium in Mount Eden - in effect making it a trade with speedway as Mount Eden is pretty close to Western Springs.

I have to admit though that Auckland currently has far too many stadiums that are a bit underused in the area: currently there's Eden Park, Mount Smart Stadium, North Harbour Stadium, Waitakere Trusts Stadium, Growers Stadium in Pukekohe, etc.

Given the size of Auckland and the historical regions, North Harbour, Waitakere Trusts and Growers are unlikely to be scrapped and are ideal really for their purposes. Furthermore, we can't really expect North Harbour and Counties Manukau to play at Eden Park.

However, given the massive turnout for the Warriors at Eden Park, is it not a bad idea to maximise the Warriors' massive standing amongst the New Zealand sporting public by basing them at a proper rugby ground? Maybe the Blues and Auckland rugby might protest and say that by having rugby week in week out in winter, the pitch would be absolutely destroyed.

However, let's be honest, Mount Smart Stadium is a bit of a dump, an aging relic from a different time and a bit of a sham compared to the new grounds popping up in the NRL, i.e. Skilled Stadium on the Gold Coast, AAMI Park in Melbourne. It was built for the 1990 Commonwealth Games, then converted for the Warriors and was great in the club's infancy. But with the Warriors looking to take itself to the next level, it might be time to get a new brand spanking home. And unless they develop Mount Smart to take it to the next half century - which I can't really see the Auckland Council doing - Eden Park has got to be the next best option.

Mind you, the Broncos share Suncorp Stadium with the Reds, heaps of Sydney based NRL clubs share the SFS with the Waratahs & the Storm share AAMI Park with the Rebels.

Why can't the Warriors share Eden Park with the Blues?

Granted, Mount Eden isn't traditionally a league stronghold in Auckland; that's Penrose & South Auckland where Mount Smart is. But times have changed and Auckland's sport is fairly homogenous now - heck, soccer is now being played in Ponsonby, a traditional union stronghold. Plus it's not the Penrose Warriors, nor is it the Auckland or New Zealand Warriors. The Warriors have become a brand on its own in New Zealand and it matters squat where they play - just as long as they win.

Can Chelsea Beat Bayern Munich?

In the most unexpected lineup for a Champions League Final since Monaco faced Porto in Gelsenkirchen in 2004 - what is it with German venues and unexpected finalists? - two sides who have had disappointing domestic league campaigns will be out to end their seasons with one of the most coveted pieces of silverware in football.

And for the first time since 1983, one of the finalists will be playing on their homeground, i.e. Bayern Munich at the ground usually known as the Allianz Arena. Chelsea will be hoping to play the party-pooper role Liverpool played in that 1983 final against their hosts, AS Roma. They really need to spoil the party as as it stands, Chelsea don't have an invite to next year's Champions League soiree, having finished well off the top 4 in the league.

Bayern fans - and Tottenham fans, for that matter - will be hoping the Germans will be their stereotypically tough and uncompromising selves and take out their first Champions League title in over 10 years and their first in front of their home fans.

So can Chelsea do it despite missing 4 key players and having to play 2 hamstrung players in the backline (Cahill and Luiz)? Their midfield will miss the zip of Ramires who is suspended along with John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Raul Meireles. But the effervescent Frank Lampard is still there and will be determined to win the one trophy he hasn't won yet in his club career. Michael Essien could slot into Ramires' spot with John Obi Mikel playing as a makeshift right back.

Do not expect to Roberto di Matteo to employ the same tactics we saw at the Nou Camp unless Chelsea incredibly have a man sent off. Bayern Munich aren't quite as dynamic a side as Barcelona and Real Madrid even if they are at home and should be the quickest side out of the blocks. This is also still a highly talented Chelsea side even if they are on the aging side. While they will play their usual counter-attacking style, don't expect a 10-man bus parked in front of the Chelsea goal.

An early goal is key too and perhaps Chelsea will want to try and wrest the advantage from Bayern Munich from the kickoff. If Chelsea are up early they can play at their pace and dictate terms, this will also apply enormous pressure on the home-side and eventually take the crowd out of the occasion.

Whatever happens, it could be a pretty open game. Or it might be a dull goalless draw that will go down to penalties.

Are the Brumbies Really Really that Good?

Last night's Super rugby clash at a rainy and windy Cake-Tin turned out to be the clash of two sides with lots of inexperienced but highly talented, young players. In the end, Jake White's baby Brumbies beat Mark Hammett's young Hurricanes, making a tremendous comeback in the 2nd half after being 10 points down at one stage.

Zack Holmes

There may not be many established internationals in both squads - the Brumbies have Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore and Pat McCabe, Hurricanes have Victor Vito, Conrad Smith and Cory Jane. But you'd think there may be many more to come by the end of this season at the earliest - the talent of Hurricanes' Beauden Barrett, Brad Shields and Julian Savea has already been recognised by All Blacks selectors with their naming in the 35-man training squad to prepare for next month's test series against Ireland and you can expect a few more Brumbies to be named in the Wallabies squad for their series against Wales next month.

There is no doubt that Jake White has really done wonders with this young, inexperienced squad and is the right fit for the Brumbies at the right time - the wrong type of coach would have struggled, and the Brumbies would not be in contention for a playoff spot.

He has unearthed some real talent in the likes of Jesse Mogg, Sam Carter, Michael Hooper, Zack Holmes & Joseph Tomane. He has also turned the likes of the slightly more experienced Ben Mowen & Christian Lealiifano into the guiding lights of this infant team.

Suddenly, Australian rugby's depth looks a little bit better even if it's nowhere near the depth of South Africa and New Zealand. Let's not forget that the Reds do have quite a few decent players too like Horwill, Cooper, Genia, Higginbotham and Shipperley.

I think Robbie Deans' philosophy on picking a youthful Wallabies side could see a few Brumbies in his soon-
to-be announced Wallabies team.

As for the game, it was one that the Hurricanes probably could afford to lose if there is ever such a thing, as the competition dictates there needs to be at least one Australian side in the playoffs, with the Brumbies looking a fairly safe bet to fly the Aussie flag in the post-season after this win. It certainly does boost their respectability on the table - they are now 3rd on the overall ladder by virtue of competition points as well as being Aussie conference leaders. 

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will learn from this and definitely will win a few more to push their claims for a wildcard spot - not a bad achievement in itself given they were not really the plaudits' choice at the start of the season. It has already been a good season for the Hurricanes with greatness not that far away.

Who will be the Next King of Anfield? AVB Strikes Back

It looks like Andre-Villas Boas may be leading the race to take over as King at Anfield. AVB was in my list of candidates to replace Kenny Dalglish as mentioned earlier along with Roberto Martinez, Paul Lambert, Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers who has taken himself out of the running by rebuffing Liverpool's approach to Swansea.

As mentioned before, AVB is a young manager, hungry for success and hungry to prove that he was simply at the wrong club, at the wrong time, when he took on the Chelsea manager's role last year. AVB does have plenty of support from players and managers, especially in light of events at Chelsea where apparently the players had the final word.

The Chelsea situation in 2012 has been a bit like the situation at the Brumbies in 2004 when Nucifora was kicked out by the experienced Gregan, Larkham, Smith & Mortlock leadership group despite a Super 12 title-winning season.

At Liverpool, AVB is likely to come to a club needing someone to take charge. Yes there are the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher but unlike John Terry and Didier Drogba, they are club-first men, rather than me-first men. There is also plenty of youth at the squad that needs to be fine-tuned and developed which would also suit AVB's working style.

If AVB does go to Anfield, it is likely he will revert to a 4-3-3 starting formation and ditch the need for wingers - which would suit Liverpool very nicely given they haven't had any decent wingers in a while and the ones there are probably set to leave in the summer. The forwards will probably play a bit more in-field.

So given Liverpool's current squad, AVB could possibly play this team:

Reina (GK)

Enrique/Flangan, Coates/Carragher, Agger, Johnson/Kelly

Gerrard/Adam, Lucas, Henderson

Suarez, Carroll, Gerrard/Sterling

Steven Gerrard could operate in the free role behind Suarez and Carroll or revert to a deeper midfield role and open the door for Raheem Sterling or even Stewart Downing if AVB is brave enough to play him so far up front.

I think any manager including AVB should stick with Andy Carroll who in my opinion, is about to blossom - there were signs of that towards the end of last season that he may have found his mould at Liverpool. The emergence of Raheem Sterling towards the end of the season is also quite exciting and may be the push that Stewart Downing needs to get back on track.

Well, well, looks Liverpool might get their Special One after all. And I may be more open to AVB with his European experience as well as his record of winning the Portuguese title with Porto over the still-unknown quantity that is Roberto Martinez.

Martinez's time will come but I think the Liverpool job may not be the right one for him right now.

Ivan Klasnic for Wellington Phoenix?

Following their relegation from the Premier League, Bolton Wanderers have not surprisingly released players - 12 of them in fact. While captain Kevin Davies and defender Sam Ricketts have signed on to stay at the Reebok, the likes of Gretar Steinsson, Paul Robinson and a few other average players have been released.

Then there's Ivan Klasnic.

Now I've watched a bit of Ivan Klasnic in the Premier League and must admit that I'm a bit of a fan of him. The Croatian footballer started out in Germany with FC St Pauli and Werder Bremen. He moved to Bolton Wanderers via Nantes in 2009 and scored 20 goals in 77 appearances, mostly as a sub with Kevin Davies being the lead striker.

However, Klasnic, the first footballer to play at a major tournament after undergoing a transplant - Klasnic appeared at EURO 2008 after a kidney transplant - is now a free agent, meaning a reasonable quality striker is now available on the market.

At 31, Klasnic is possibly starting to wind down his professional footballing career and after playing in Germany, France and England and missing out on Croatia's EURO 2012 squad, perhaps Klasnic might consider a move outside Europe.

What about the Wellington Phoenix who probably need an extra striker with Chris Greenacre taking on a reduced role at the Nix next season? The Hyundai A-League could suit Klasnic at this time - look how it has transformed Paul Ifil, a player who struggled to break into a Premier League side for a long time, into a bit of a star in this part of the world.

A Phoenix attack comprised of Ifil and Klasnic as spearheads with Brockie and Bertos providing the width could be very tantalising indeed.

So, Mr Morrisson and Morgan, time to contact Ivan Klasnic and offer him a trial at least in Wellington?

And finally..

Dear Mr Klasnic, 
Wellington's weather is a bit better than Bolton's. At least we have better cafes and pubs. Plus the Nix use an awesome gym on Taranaki Street called Les Mills. And people may recognise Orlando Bloom but just walk past. Speaking of Orlando Bloom, the Hobbit is being filmed right now in the same city. Oh and we've got a fine 30,000 plus seater stadium which is really close to the city? Plus we'll be playing a lot of Australian sides - meaning of lots of Croats like your mate, Josip Simunic. 


What more could you want?

Here's a YouTube video to get you convinced: