The Unused Subs

The giant frame of Sam Cosgrove eased into the Tyler St Sport studio this week! The Auckland FC big man was ready to chat all things about his move to NZ from the UK, and experiencing his first summer Christmas. Whether Paul Ifill could hang in for the entire chat though was placed in serious doubt; sat at Christchurch Airport ready to fly home, with low phone battery and no charging cable in sight!

Regardless, The Unused Subs pushed on, as Sam and Iffy compare their experiences as import forwards in the A-League. Sam speaks about the extensive travel, getting used to the numerous time differences across Australasia, and the impossible heat that comes with playing football during summertime... something he's never been faced with before!

He mentions Duncan Ferguson who helped hone his craft as a target man in his younger years, talks about THAT scarcely believable goal after 28-seconds in the Kiwi derby and how AFC planned to nail the Phoenix high line, we create a commercial opportunity for he and Francis De Vries, and pose the question: Has he ever heard 'Sam Cosgrove' and 'Ballon D'Or' in the same sentence? The answer may shock you, but not if you support Aberdeen.

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This week, The Unused Subs lick their wounds after a rough weekend.  Jacob Spoonley endured a late, white-knuckle drive from Napier to Wellington after his flight to cover the Phoenix/Adelaide game was canceled, and poor old Paul Ifill got sprayed and drenched in the pre-game by a rogue sprinkler!  Some say his jacket is still drying out.

To the football itself though, and the Subs talk about the FA Cup 3rd Round results for our flying kiwis - in particular Liberato Cacace and his super strike on the way to chopping down Nottingham Forest.  Iffy talks to the mindset of the lower level sides in the Cup; desperately wanting to face the biggest clubs in the earlier rounds, but looking to avoid them the deeper you go in the knockout competition!

With Tim Payne and Nikola Mileusnic back on the park for the Nix, and All Whites defender Bill Tuiloma officially on the books, we look at what Chiefy’s preferred Starting XI might be for the remainder of the A-League season…  is there room for all the big names, and where might THAT side finish up on the league ladder?  Meanwhile, Auckland FC won again on the road, and Lachie Brook scored another wondergoal against the Roar.  He can play central, he can play on each flank…  What is his best position?  But most importantly: what’s his best position for the team’s sake?

And with former Phoenix gaffer Ufuk Talay being compared to Aussie shock jock Kyle Sandilands in a post-match presser, Paul Ifill unleashes the tale of how he was once mistaken for the iconic recording artist Craig David on a night out in London!  It’s funny what a bit of stubble, double denim and a stretch limousine can make people believe!

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Happy New Year everyone! The Unused Subs are back like we never left (because we didn’t) and our first guest of 2026 is 20 year old Football Ferns striker Milly Clegg - yes, we know, she’s the daughter of former Black Sticks hockey captain Kylie, but let’s see how long it takes for us to mention her… because Mum always hijacks Milly’s chats for some reason!

Today we review our respective New Year’s Eve celebrations before talking about Milly’s Canadian experience with Halifax Tides in the newly-formed Northern Super League. SPOILER ALERT: Wins were few and far between unfortunately! But with that difficult season under her belt, Milly reveals what she has learnt about her game, and how she can take things to another level with Racing Louisville in the NWSL.

Paul Ifill delivers what can only be referred to as A STRIKER’S MASTERCLASS; how an attacker can improve on their craft, and what some players aren’t doing correctly in one-on-one situations with a keeper… even at A-League level!

We revisit Milly’s astonishing year of THREE World Cups, culminating in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on kiwi soil. All the while attempting to complete her schooling at Mt Albert Grammar!

And yes, eventually we’ll talk about her exceptional sporting family, including Mum… plus how her Dad broke his back, how her uncle ripped a hamstring, and how Milly herself didn’t wind up playing hockey or cricket when she easily could have.

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For the final time in 2025 Jacob & Goran enter the Tyler St Sport studio where they are joined by Paul Ifill.  As the new year approaches rapidly the Subs bench uses this time to review the key moments of the year that was, and look forward to big things in 2026!

Michael Boxall’s unlikely goal in the World Cup Qualifier against New Caledonia, Auckland FC winning the Premiers Plate in their very first A-League season, the Wellington Phoenix with an extremely poor showing in the 3rd-ever Kiwi derby, plus kiwi players securing moves to big offshore clubs - just some of the things we look back on from the past 365 days.

Looking ahead to 2026 though, the guys make some predictions.  Will Giancarlo Italiano retain his place as head coach of the Phoenix?  We ask the same for Steve Corica; due to his success with AFC surely he’s in danger of being snapped up!  And given that the All Whites are putting themselves in the shop window at the FIFA World Cup, which player will receive the ‘Winston Reid treatment’ and sign for a Premier League club when it’s all said and done?

Oh, and there’s serious frustration that the Auckland/Sydney game was postponed due to an unsafe field…  classic A-League eh.  Just find a venue!

Happy New Year to you, enjoy the show and we’ll see you again in 2026!

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Kiwis talk football too!
#football #soccer #newzealand

Last week, Auckland FC’s Lachie Brook joined the Subs Bench at Tyler St Sport and took it upon himself to reveal the secret life of teammate Callan Elliot. The man Lachie described was something of a moody, angry individual, capable of abusing a postman or messing with a stranger’s car for no good reason. In this week’s episode, Callan will attempt to set the record straight and clear his name.

But not without some difficulty along the way! From an unscheduled guest popping in, to receiving absolutely no support from former mentor Paul Ifill, it’s clear that the odds are against the AFC wingback. And of course, we have to ask Callan about that brilliant own goal he scored… just to make him feel even better about himself!

Away from Lachie’s character assassination, we learn about Callan’s experience as a trialist under Marko Rudan at the Wellington Phoenix, how former Nix player David Williams nearly ‘broke’ Callan one morning at 3am, the difficulties he faced both on and off the pitch when exiting Wellington, and he provides the lowdown on his fellow Evil Twin: who is the real angry man - Callan or Lachie?

And because it’s Christmas, Paul Ifill tells a story involving Neil Warnock, a heart rate monitor, a chocolate fountain and man's best friend!? Happy holidays indeed from the lads at The Unused Subs!

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Kiwis talk football too!#football #soccer #newzealand