Nice piece in the Age

Queensland Roar, into its first A-League finals series on the back of exciting teenage trio Michael Zullo, Robbie Kruse and Tahj Minniecon, would probably be the feel-good story.

But it is the Wellington Phoenix that might have the most unlikely claim � that of best story of the season.

Maybe it's a strange call given that the New Zealanders cannot make the finals and they have lost nine of 19 matches so far.

But such has been their competitiveness and entertainment value � they are the league's third highest scorers � and their successful and swift rebuilding of respect for New Zealand soccer that they deserve the accolade.

Just months before the A-League's pre-season competition began in mid-July coach Rikki Herbert didn't have a club so much as the concept of one. "There was no ground, no players, no management � nothing, really," he reflected yesterday ahead of tonight's clash with Melbourne.

Herbert, who also coaches the NZ national team, the All Whites, quickly pulled together a coalition of cast-offs (including Victory duo Michael Ferrante and Vince Lia), returning Kiwis (Shane Smeltz, Vaughan Coveny, Tony Lochhead and Jeremy Christie) and exotic Brazilians (Daniel, Felipe, Cleberson and George Paladini). He topped them off with a couple of Australian veterans in ex-Adelaide skipper Ross Aloisi and former Watford midfielder Richard Johnson.

The Phoenix made it clear from the first match � when it attracted 14,000 to Wellington's "Cake Tin" stadium and snatched a 2-2 draw in the last 14 minutes � that it would not be a pushover.

Phoenix lacked the grunt to make the finals � its potent attack, which has notched 25 goals so far, has been complemented by a porous defence, which has conceded a league-high 32 � but it has troubled almost everyone it has played.

"I think we have certainly contributed quite a lot this year both on and off the pitch," Herbert said. "An average of 12,000 helps an event and when people switch on a television and they see the crowd and hear the noise, that sends a positive message.

"I think the football we have played this year has been decent � but, for me, probably the most important thing we have achieved is that we have made a real basis for a very solid, sound successful franchise in the A-League coming out of NZ."

Herbert signed discarded players because he knew they would have the appetite to help drive the new franchise. "I knew they would be hungry to be in the A-League. It was an opportunity for them to prove they were good enough, and they certainly have."

Recruiting was a problem, he said, because of the rush to set up a club. "We had to get 23 players together in a short time-frame and I think we have done a hell of a job. While some have not made the impact we would like, there's not really anybody who has let us down."

With more time to plan for next season, Herbert believes the Phoenix can eventually make the finals.

"I think it's possible to have a professional team, be competitive and work to the finals from NZ. We must make more of our home-ground advantage. We're a three-hour flight for opponents and if we can make the most of that we should be higher up the ladder."

He has no regrets about the Phoenix's cavalier style, reasoning that in the club's debut season no one wanted to see them grind out 1-0 wins or scoreless draws.

"The product at home needed to be exciting to attract people. When you start off at home in your first game with 14,000 people and in your final home match you're seventh in the league and you get a bigger crowd, something's right. I think people have really enjoyed what we have tried. Instead of being really cautious, negative and sitting back, we have tried things rather than try to draw or nick games," Herbert said.

"Against Melbourne, we will try to take the game to them. That's been our style all season. We won't hold back � we have got a bit of unfinished business. We have not come here to wind the season down; players understand the importance of it and I want them to continue our adventurous approach."