Yeah sometimes the truth hurts if you're a hard core fan.
There are 5,000 floating fans (above the 5,000 core) who used to show up at Phoenix home games, and don't come anymore. Yeah they'll be there sunday because we've won back to back games (at home and then away) How many times have we done that in our history.
Like it or not, playing well and winning gets the crowds in.
Everytime there's been a decent home display and home win, they are more often than not close to appalling in the next game, away from home, and lose.
Mum, Dad and the kids aren't gonna fork out $100 after watching them play like sh*te in the away game.
It's about time a few independent critics had a go. Expectations were high within the club this season, and with this squad, they should've bolted into the top 4. But they were so lack lustre in the first half of the season, it eliminated any chance of doing that. Too defensive-minded early on, and tactically wierd.
Pre-season, RH got his wish, a tall targetman striker (McAllister), and attacking midfielder (Ward) - but dropped them both - falling back to the same old boring, non effective lineup with pint-sized Greenacre up front on his own, and Bertos (who's had a shocker). Our tactics were hit the ball long to Greenacre, or down the sidelines to Ifill (who had 3 shadows continually harrassing him) and Bertos - who runs 20 metres towards the corner flag for no reward, or runs 10 metres, only to stop and lay the ball back.
Both McAllister and Ward have proven recently what they can do. Shame really. The arrival of Rojas into the starting lineup at last has given us a glimmer of hope of a decent Finals run.
The squad, to its credit, has stood up really well since the Ifill injury. Hopefully the away culture will be sorted no we got through against Adelaide. RH is a developing coach, who isn't at a level yet to handle both the AW's and a Phoenix GF run. That must be sorted thru too when his contract comes up after next season.
Hopefully the internal debrief on the season will be thorough.
As for the media - most are handcuffed to the point where we're saturated with "good news" stories only .. no hard questions asked .. and never know what's really going on off the field.
Plus the Nix Execs have been too flat out sorting the biz plan, and have handled Terry S money matters badly in public.
We need honest, transparent coverage.