20/21 Season - Wellingong Phoenix

I think our mid is okay. Devlin as a pivot, dropping into space whenever needed, and Rufer playing long balls over the opposition. Still not to sure who will partner up with DeVere at the back. (Laws or TAWH?). But yes, still not so assured about our defense. As far as captaincy is concerned, probably DeVere or Ball.

Think Devlin’s too dominant as a roaming, ball-winning mid to act as a pivot. I’d say I want Rufer there, but I don’t think he’s strong defensively; could be perfect for Ridenton though

Rufer was deputising for Steinman at the end of last season?

Yesterday was 17 Days until the first Nix game & our new marquee will be wearing #17

Today is 16 Days to go & the pride of Tawa will be back in the #16 shirt

https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/gallery-pre...

A-League and W-League season launch. It’s actually happening. pic.twitter.com/qVoGJFCvPJ

— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) December 14, 2020

Seems they forgot to tell a lot of the A-League media that this was actually happening today ....

Apparently the deal was that the A-League clubs did this themselves without involving FFA, as part of "taking control".

Meanwhile, games at the RoF in the New Year?!?

#Breaking Jacinda Ardern's NZ Cabinet has agreed today to establish a trans-Tasman bubble in 1st Q 2021 ... conditional on case levels staying low and Aust Cabinet approval

— Ben McKay (@benmackey) December 14, 2020

Where did you see that? Given there is no Jets representation, I doubt the clubs would have forgotten them

Source:

I'm told today's launch was planned by the A-League clubs and Fox Sports as part of the taking control of the competition (ie FFA had nothing to do with it...)

— Kevin Airs (@KevinAirs) December 14, 2020

Missed that, my bad.

Great news. Really they had to do this, with nearly all the Australian states now allowing Kiwis to fly in without need for 2 weeks MI. Hopefully 2 way bubble will happen soon.

Sounds like the club was planning on the bubble being in place for a home stand on those 3 consecutive games late in the season (April 17 + 25 + May 3rd). I dunno if the club could afford to relocate out of the 'gong to play games as soon as the bubble opens.

If there is quarantine free travel between here and Oz then nothing stands in the way of games in Welly except the will to do it, and I can imagine the will to do it is there.

I hadn't looked at the draw cuz it was kinda depressing that we didn't have any home games. So I only just realised that we only play 6 games outside NSW this season, if nothing is moved back to Welly.

Apparently they played a third half which the nix also scored in, so it was 3-1 at full time but 4-1 by the time they finished playing.

If a bubble opens up we may still be based in Aussie, but fly back here to play, in case the bubble is closed again.

Until the vaccine has been widely distributed, I can't see the team coming home.

Yipe this is probably a likely outcome.

2 way bubble would be useful, for giving first team fringe players some game time with Weenix. Though Handy Prem may already be over (finishes end March) before any bubble is underway.

15 Days until Mirza Muratovic, our new #15 can show the Roar what they have lost.

Did he get given the 17 and then get asked to give it up for Tomer?

It is last years training kit, so maybe they just gave him one that would fit.

A silver spoon is still silverware.

TBH Ive picked the Roar for the spoon this season so long as we smash them in our first game of the season. If not its all down hill from there. Still it wont stop me from supporting the boys down in Wollongong when i watch them live. The team will need all the moral support they can get and Im up for the task,

If you don't think we'll win a game then you think we'll have the worst season in the history of the a league, there's no way the Roar will be worse than that. 

For the record I think we're top four. I saw WSW fans saying that they we're happy with their performance against a top team in our preseason game which made me chuckle. Australian fans and press think we're contenders for once.

Ever since the license was resolved we've been one of the better teams in the comp and there's no reason to think that's changed.

Remember squad size and salary cap have reduced but we've still kept a strong team and have another high profile marquee striker. Most teams have lost quality and players, even Sydney had to let Le Fondre go for a year, not just us.

That makes sense, looking back he was originally announced as 15. 

Think we need to accept the best solution for the team is to be based in the gong this season, with the odd game in Wellington. Too much risk relocating the team back, unsettling for the players and the risk of jeapodizing the season if the borders slam shut. 

The Roof will be again on fire in 14 days

To be fair, it wouldn't be the first time, and I'm pretty sure every other time we've been viewed favourably in Australia its turned out to be a disaster season.

I personally think its going to come down to whatever team has the least number of injuries to its best starting 11, given the smaller squad size and general lack of depth in most squads due to salary cap changes.

It's an interesting one.

We've made the biggest sacrifice - players are away from their families, if things start to go bad it may be harder to right the ship.

On the other side of the coin, most of our games will be played in NSW so there will be far less travel to deal with than usual - it may actually turn out to be a net positive in terms of our performances. 

This will be the best season ever and we are not able to watch it live. Being a football can be really tough

Especially if you feel deflated

Try being an Arsenal fan at the same time :(

12 Days until Matt Ridenton is back in Yellow

Do we know if the official A-league youtube account will stream matches outside Aus nz again?

everyone hates the new strip, but I reckon this will be the strip we Wear to win the league!!! Not long too go now COYN!

The new strip is very bright. Was this on purpose designed to reflect the Aussie sun / heat.

As we are generally playing earlier games at about 5pm kick off Aus time.

With the new covid cases in NSW and possible border closes could be a chance of not being able to play games in atleast the first round

This probably scuppers any chance of a trans-Tasman bubble in the first quarter of 2021, and possibly beyond.

Oh good, more complications to get through, yet we'll still win the League.

Just as well Seymour is not in charge with his gung ho carefree attitude.