Watching Santa

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall admitted today the only Santa he'd been watching in recent days was Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz. "I've been tuning into Blackburn games to see how Ryan Nelson is going but instead I've found myself watching Santa Cruz score goals" said Hall "I think he should get a film deal, I think he could make a fortune in Hollywood, he could do a whole series Roque 1, Roque 2 etc". Hall said his favourite sports headline of the Christmas period was on Soccernet after Santa Cruz scored a late equaliser. " 'Santa Claws it Back' was the headline" said Hall "and certainly it was more fun than reading Port Vale results of late".

Merry Christmas

Zephyr Rovers Chairman George Nash wished all those associated with the club a Merry Christmas today. "I'm not going as far as dressing up in a red suit and going round saying ho ho ho" said Nash "but I certainly hope everyone enjoys a good break and comes back refreshed for the rest of the season in January". Nash said he was hoping for more competition points for Christmas for his 'other club' Glasgow Rangers. "I was pleased to see Celtic lose recently so that was my pre-Christmas present" said Nash "but if we could open up a twenty point gap on them I'd feel like all my Christmases had come at once".

Team Wellington Horror

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall today took advantage of the lack of any decent televised football and took himself to watch Team Wellington play Waitakere at Newtown Park. "I had to get out in the sun but I saw Rikki Herbert there so we were both obviously thinking the same thing" said Hall "that it was a good chance to grab a beer and peruse the skills of some of the best outdoor players in New Zealand. Hall said the only problem was Wellington returned to their previous form and got hammered by 5 - 1. "I blame Danny Hay for getting in the way of all our attacks" said Hall "I think we'd have won 7 - 5 without him in the way". Hall said Wellington played pretty football whilst Waitakere got on the business of banging it in the net. "Wellington played nice build ups before centering it on the Hay's head" said Hall "whilst Waitakere were a bit more direct and kept scoring". Hall said he took a positive from the game as "the beer was cold".

Holiday Break

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall conformed today he would be giving the Rovers squad a well earned break until the next match in January. "It is getting pretty warm and sunny in Wellington and I think the perfect time to stay in and watch more football on the tele" said Hall "I know there will be those who will be tempted out into the sun to watch beach Volleyball but with so many Premier League games on, there is a lot of managerial study to be done". Hall said he would of course take time out to watch the Dr Who Christmas special. "Dr Who is something of a tradition in our house" said Hall "you can be sure the family will be sitting down to watch it soon after Boxing Day".

Slow Start Costs

Zephyr Rovers were down 3 - 0 today in the blink of an eye before rallying to reach 3 - 2 down at half time. "We had the worst start in memory and were pretty inept in the first few minutes" said Hall "I put it down to the team not having my 'guidance' from the keepers position and Rob Purcell (pictured) was a bit crook". Hall said it was times like this you had to take the positives out of the match. "I thought Matty Cantwell had a good one today and his first goal has been captured on video for his world wide supporters to have a gawk at". Hall said the second half was also quite competitive until Rovers dropped badly of the pace in the last few minutes. "The turning point was when a perfectly good goal was disallowed for reasons we're not sure of" said Hall "and then the heads went down and we got done in the last five minutes". Hall said he didn't think Hoof Hearted were a great team but Rovers just hadn't come to play on the day. "We didn't mark at all well at the start and looked lacklustre from where I was on the sideline" said Hall "but for most of the game we looked the better team but couldn't put the chances away on the day".

Final: Rovers 4 Hoof Hearted 8

Struggling

With Player Manager Steve Hall sidelined, and several other players in doubt, the selection issues for the match tomorrow has become finding a team. "We haven't had a settled side lately especially in the run in to Christmas" said Hall "but we'll get five at least out on the pitch even if we have to introduce everyone to each other at the start". Hall said that injuries had played a part but team members were also heavily committed at this time of year to "promotional" activities. You get a good looking bunch of blokes like this and everyone is after them at this time of year" reported Hall "you get a guy like John Cao and he can't keep up with the promotional offers, he keeps getting asked to be a clothes horse down at Farmers". Hall said he was sure the Hoof Hearted team would be stacked for the occasion so it would be a tough match.

Hussey The Key

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall today met with Chairman Nash to try and work out a squad for Wednesday's key match against Hoof Hearted. "I'll be out but possibly George and Matty are also possibly out, so we may yet have to field a bit of a scratch team" said Hall "so the return of Eddie Hussey is going to be pretty important in stabilising the defence". Hall said Hoof Hearted and Rovers had both drawn with Telstra in recent weeks so it should be a close match. "They are ahead of us on the table and I'm expecting them to pull out all the stops" said Hall "but we look like we'll have Eddie and Chopper back so we might have a bit of bite this week as well". hall said the difficult decision of who to start to goal would be made once the starting line up was known.

Martinborough Has It All

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall confirmed this afternoon that the highlight of his weekend away at a retreat in Martinborough was undoubtedly watching the 5 - 3 Wigan win over Blackburn. "I don't support either team but this one was an absolute cracker" said Hall "it had all the drama you'd expect in a football match and I lay there on the sofa in the middle of a great wine producing area thinking how lucky I was I'd taken the precaution of ensuring I could watch Sky Sport". Hall said Martinborough had been an excellent trip and he would be recommending other team members went there. "I heard it got up to near 30 degrees outside" said Hall "I had to shut the curtains to stop the sun getting on the TV set". Hall said it was a nice quiet town which meant you didn't need to turn the TV volume up too high. "I liked the people over there as I never saw them" confirmed Hall "although they'd struggle to get a five a side team I imagine".

Hall Escapes

Injured Zephyr Manager Steve Hall admitted he had taken the weekend away from the pressures of big time indoor football with a retreat to Martinborough for the weekend. "We have a huge game coming up against Hoof Hearted and they have been giving us stick for weeks about this match" confessed Hall "so I'm going out to the country to drink a bit of wine and contemplate how we might take them down a peg or two". Hall said he had ensured his country retreat had Sky TV so there would be plenty of opportunity to study the football. "I imagine I'll watch the A League matches, the Premiership Matches and the World Club matches, and who knows I might take in a bit of Spanish football as well". Hall said it was important not to focus on football all weekend. "I might watch other sports as well if anything decent is on" said Hall "and of course there will be time to whip down to the town for some fish and chip between matches". Hall said there was nothing quite like going to the country for the weekend to get a different perspective. "I've heard the cottage has a different sized TV" said Hall "so that will provide be a bit of variety".

We Could Squeeze Felipe In

Zephyr Rovers Chairman George Nash admitted after watching the Phoenix match this evening that Brazilian Felipe could be squeezed under the Zephyr salary cap if he ever wanted a run for the Phoenix. "I've taken a look at the lad and he has a few skills that would see him even up to Scottish football standards" said Nash "and I think he has enough trickery to make it in the indoor game as well". Nash invited Felipe to give him a call and perhaps Rovers would organise an exhibition match to see how Felipe would go. "We hear he is staying in Wellington for another year so he might benefit form a bit of toughening up in an indoor match" said Nash "although he doesn't fall over as much as Daniel". Phoenix drew 1 - 1 in this evening match with Queensland and Felipe was "lively" throughout.

Hall Injured

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall was injured yesterday evening whilst playing for Shapeshifters in an evening Indoor Football fixture. "I wasn't even meant to be playing and I certainly wasn't meant to be in goal" said Hall "but I tipped a hard drive around the post and it literally ripped the skin of my finger as it meant backwards from the force". Hall said after 15 minutes stemming the blood flow he was out back on the pitch but he was sure he wouldn't be in goal for Rovers next match. "The finger has got a bit sore since the match and I had a couple of stitches" said Hall "so I might be sitting out the next match and giving the lads a bit of sideline advice". An anonymous spokesmen for the team said they looked forward to being yelled at from the sideline rather than from the goal. "They needn't think I won't be offering some coaching" said Hall "especially anyone who gives away a cheap goal".

Come Back Draw

Zephyr Rovers had eight players available at kick off in the match against Telstra Clear at the Shed of Dreams today. "Matty turned up unexpectedly and Chopper (pictured) was there although unable to play outfield" said Zephyr Manager Steve Hall "and the match started well enough but about half way through the first half at 2 - 2 our defence turned to custard and we let in some very soft goals". Hall said that from the sideline it looked like players were pushing up but not doing the hard yards to get back and cover. "We needed to sort it as we were 5 -2 down at half time and looking likely to be on the receiving end of a big defeat" said Hall "so I went back in goal so I could bark at the defence and we got ahead at 6 - 5 after a much improved performance". Hall said Telstra equalised with a flukey deflection and the game ended tied". Hall said it was frustrating watching the latter part of the first half from the sideline but at least it was turned around. "We've dropped points there we shouldn't have" said Hall "we lost the pattern we've built up as a team but even so had the chances to win that one by five".

Final: Rovers 6 Telstra 6

The Future Isn't Clear

Zephyr Rovers manager Steve Hall today said he would have called the Telstra Clear manager to wish him luck for this weeks match but he was told they currently had a one hour twenty three minute call queue. "Don't get me wrong I love the Telstra Clear broadband service like the next geek" said Hall "but they do seem to have the worst call wait times in the developed and undeveloped world". Hall said he was approaching the match philosophically. "I don't know how you approach a match philosophically but I heard John Adshead (pictured) say it once so it must be one of those football management terms" said Hall "Adshead also talked a lot about composure on the ball but once you've seen Rob Purcell play you kind of see that is preferable to decomposure on the ball". Hall said it would be a tough game but he was hoping Rovers would keep picking up points.

Roberts Not Recalled

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall said this afternoon he had ruled out a recall of former player Pete Rpberts for this weeks match against Telstra Clear. "I had a think about recalling Pete Roberts (pictured) but then I recalled this step over he did right in front of goal to give an opposition player a free goal" said Hall "Pete wins points for tricky moves but unfortunately he forgets where the ball is sometimes and he is probe to not passing it". Hall said he'd stick with old war horse Rob Purcell for the Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall confirmed today that injuries had forced a rethink about the starting line up for Rovers over Telstra match. "Rob slows down a bit in the last five but he has a lethal left foot and doesn't lose possession as much as Pete" said Hall "and we might even see Chopper in goal for part of this match which will be a treat for the fans and referees alike".

Top Eight Vital

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall said that with teams bunching up in mid-table Rovers first priority was to stay ahead of Infinity and Ten Left Feet. "I think we'd like to see everyone beat those two teams as we can't afford to drop into the bottom two" said Hall "but we've played some of the bottom half teams and now have to try to take some points off the better teams to stay in the top four". Hall said that whilst a top four slot was still his top priority avoiding the bottom two was also in his mind. "Perhaps last weeks defeat has made too much of an impression on me" said Hall "so this weeks match against Telstra will be a more accurate gauge of our relative position". Hall said he was hoping the Rovers fighting character would come out this week.

Smith Disappears

Zephyr Rovers Australian Scout Charlie Smith had not been heard from since his adopted Perth side lost their third game in a row against Wellington Phoenix. "He seems to not be supporting his local crew which is understandable" said Hall "when he surfaces he'll probably crap on about how well Pompey are going even though we suspect he has gone over to the Scum". Smith was thought to have been converted to the dark side of the Saints by Chris Riddle's brother. "He might have gone missing because the Perth Pompey fan club found out he'd worn that Saints shirt for a day" said Hall "I suspect foul play, which is the sort of play you expect to see from a Pompey side now I think about it".

Perth Pulverised

Zephyr Rovers newly self reappointed manager Steve Hall would be sending a message to Charlie Smith in Perth after the Wellington Phoenix recorded their third straight win against Perth. "I'll be telling Charlie not to bother supporting his local side as they are crap" said Hall "but then they seem to have taken a dive since Charlie hit town so maybe the message should be for him to move to Sydney". Hall said that Yellow Fever had a great time in the pub later singing "we're no longer bottom" before breaking out into "we're going to win the league". Hall said it hadn't been the best week of his life but the three nil win was simply superb and the weekend was looking so much better as a result. "The weekend was looking pretty average until we whipped Perth" said Hall "and now it seems like the next week in ages". Hall said he would take lessons from the match "It's nice to win" said Hall "and it's great to gloat".

Hall Unresigns

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall withdrew his resignation this morning after finding there wasn't a Russian plot to take over the Rovers. "I thought we were hours away from changing the team name to Dynamo Zephyr and I didn't like the sound of that" said Hall "but we're going to keep the Rovers name and I'm relaxed about is becoming Smirnoff Rovers if the money is good enough, although Kalininggradskava Rovers might be a bit of a mouthful". Hall said Rovers would of course prefer to keep the current sponsor as the arrangement had been mutually beneficial. "We'll be sticking with Zephyr I'd imagine if the league actually continues" said Hall "but then we might be swayed by ten million rubles a week and a case or three of vodka".

Hall Resigns

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall today said he was resigning from Zephyr Rovers after what he declared was interference in team selections. "Not that I'm naming names but this is Chelsea all over again and we'll be checking what links with the Russians" said Hall "I never thought I'd resign from the club I founded but there you have it". Hall insisted he had never called the media scum commenting "I said something off the cuff about a media scrum and the next things I was all over the internet suggesting the media were scum" Hall said he liked the media liked he loved referees and it was unfortunate that some reporters were prone to hearing what they wanted to hear. "This is a sad day but I'll be back" said Hall "I think I'll take a look at Infinity cause they sure need help". Hall said he would relax for a few hours before making his next move.

Tensions Evident

Speculation was rife this evening that there had been a bust up in the Rovers club after the loss to Jimmy Five Bellies at the Shed of Dreams. Sources close to the team said that there had been words spoken between the Manager Steve Hall (pictured) and Chairman George Nash after the match and that a power struggle was developing within the club. "I have nothing to say to you media scum" said Hall in a terse mood "where were you guys when we got a crowd of twelve back in the glory days, you were down the pub dreaming up doom and gloom stories". Hall said there would be further discussions within the club before he made any further statement to the media.

Stuffed

Zephyr Rovers played with four and a half men today after Matty Cantwell (pictured) failed to show for the Division 1 fixture with Jimmy Five Bellies. "Matty didn't show and George was carrying an injury" said Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall "but we were stuffed once George went in goal due to his injury as he had limited mobility so they got some very soft goals". Hall said you needed to be at a reasonable strength to give yourself a chance against the better Division 1 teams and with hindsight he should have made sure seven players were available for the match. "I've let the management aspect slip a bit lately and I should have stepped in there" said Hall "but it is all very well seeing these things with hindsight". Hall said after being at 4 - 2 early in the second half Rovers had six unanswered goals knocked past them for a huge 10 - 2 loss. "That's the record for quite some time" said Hall "we'll need to regroup after what was a bad day at the Shed of Dreams".

Final: Rovers 2 Bellies 10

Rovers Ready For Bellies

Jimmy Five Bellies will be the toughest opposition yet this season as Zephyr Rovers aim to improve on their current third place in Monday's fixture. "I'm expecting this to be a tough one and we'll have to be on peak form" said Rovers Manager Steve Hall (pictured) "we have Matty Cantwell back and Rob Purcell is back so we have some older heads in the team besides mine". Hall said after the excitement of all the outdoor football over the weekend it would be difficult to readjust to playing inside the Shed of Dreams. "It has been beautiful weather for a change in Wellington so will probably be a bit warm I imagine" said Hall "but we will have to put all that watching superstars stuff out of our head or we will be watching the ball go into our net". Hall said he thought Rovers had advanced a notch since last season and Rovers should be very competitive in this fixture. "We're looking to pick up the points" said Hall "and we have the fire power to do it I think".

Nash Urged Not To Strip

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall was urging George Nash not to take his shirt off after the game on Monday with Jimmy Five Bellies after David Beckham did the honours at Westpac stadium tonight. "I think if George wants to we could look the other way" said Hall "but I'm not sure how the team will react if we get a streaker like we did in Saturday night". Hall said the match between LA Galaxy and Phoenix was an entertaining evening out and Beckham impressed with his long passing and a penalty in the 4 - 1 win. "We don't have any need for long balls in indoor to be honest because Shed 1 isn't big enough" said Hall "but if he worked on his short game we'd have a look at the lad". Hall said it remained to be seen if Shed 1 was big enough for a female streaker but he was expecting the five bellies on Monday to be all from the opposition.