2015/16 Preseason - v Auckland City | 2pm Sat 26th September | Home & Garden Show @ Westpac Stadium

all part of the plan...

We beat CCM.

Still waiting on Ernie to put out our full strength XI, injury, resting etc. 

6 weeks to go, hope everyone is fit soon and we can start putting out our first XI

Hopefully Sept 18 vs Sydney?

Liam Wood?

Still no sign of A-Rod

Sounds like a great name for a Sitcom about the Phoenix

He was at Weka Park. He was at New Plymouth. At New Plymouth he said he was 2 weeks away.

The only thing is can he play there and does he want to play there?

Apart from the fact I assume he has never played CB, isn't a great tackler and doesn't seem all too commanding the air - great idea! 

Would make more sense to put Roly back there as he has played there before; though that means taking away our biggest creative threat. Riera the other option of course.

A-Rod - 61/48 (25 games)

Siggy - 54/46 (26 games)

Dura - 56/45 (28 games)

Riera - 82/63 (27 games)

Manny - 63/52 (24 games)

Lia - 27/18 (21 games)

Roly 55/44 (28 games)

Now obviously stats don't tell the whole story but I don't think he's a bad tackler at all. I think he lacks a little bit of mongrel but in a back 3 with Siggy that might not be necessary.

I definitely agree that his aerial ability is questionable but as a starting point he's taller than any of the back 3 who started against the Cap Football XI, which is always an advantage. 

And yeah he hasn't really played CB before as far as we're aware, but how much time have Riera, Lia, or Muscat spent at CB in their careers? 

Agreed re: Roly though, he's too important to our attacking play for a shift to the back.

Really though I only suggested it because Ernie seems to insist on playing a back 3, and we have a lot of midfield options and only 2 natural CBs in the squad. As Jeff said it's hard to see how all our import mids fit into a 3-4-3, and I'm not convinced by any of our options for a 3rd CB in the current squad. A-Rod at least is young and might provide a long-term option if he's trained into the role and adapts to it. There also aren't a lot of kiwi or Aussie CB options floating around at the moment either.

My personal preference would still be to play with a back 4 and leave A-Rod in midfield though. Oh, and to have kept Boxall would have been nice.

Intersting stats for tackling. I thought he got pushed off the ball too easily. not really desirable in the back line!

I reckon Rierra at the Back with Bonevacia playing further back than last year. We just signed an attacking Midfielder with great pidegree called Jeffrey.

Are you aware how slow Riera is ?

A-Rod - 230/113

Dura - 178/105

Siggy - 236/151

Lia - 164/71

Roly - 414/182

Manny - 271/133

Riera - 256/146

Again, he's pretty similar to Lia, Riera and Manny in terms of the ratio.

I know I spend a bit of time on here defending A-Rod with statistics but it just seems that there's a general impression that he doesn't bring much to the team when I think he does. I think he's very calm and composed and never tries anything really fancy, and  is never really in the position to make spectacular tackles or blocks, so it's easy to forget what he brings to the team, which is generally solid play, accurate passing, good positioning, and a big engine.

if the nix really want to play with a back three then one of the options are to play Alex in the quarterback role - in possession he steps slightly further forward with Riera but when defending he goes back into the backline between Sigmund and Durante.

Ideally we would sign another centreback but in the meantime Alex could do this role ok.

(Someone Else) must have been Liam Wood.

I was distracted at that point as I was off talking to Roly getting a #PhoenixCity scoop...

Don't disagree with your assessment of Rodriguez.  I just felt that when he had the ball and hadn't got away a good pass, he was generally bundled off the ball (i.e. I noticed it over the course of the season).

I think he brings a lot to the team. I rate him highly but the general football populous believe that unless you are doing back heels, juggling with your left testicle or running through a whole team, then you are invisible and do nothing.

This is another opinion that maybe only one person on this entire forum actually had. Most were calling for Lia to be dropped in favour of A-Rod.

A Rod is a really good player, helps the team play great football 

Isn't the point of an academy that you produce kids who are really good at football?

Being less flippant, it does seem that a lot of kids have had an opportunity in pre-season but no-one has seized it in the way Louis did a couple of years ago and really pushed for a contract

Fenton is 22, but this year we've had lots of  really young ones playing - to make up the numbers? Stevens (aged 20) looks about ready.

maybe just because they want them with Wgtn Utd til their season finishes. Expect at least a couple of Rogerson, Singh, McGarry, DiMario to get a contract IMO

DiMario looks pretty much nailed on considering our lack of defensive depth.

With the exception of DiMairo (who I think is ready) the rest are 17 year olds - they'll be in same situation as Ridenton and Rufer have been the last 2 years. Their time will come soon enough. For me DiMairo and Stevens.

DiMario is the new Boxhall

I'm not sure that it helps, as he now appears to be Italian, rather than Zimbabwean.

15 days until we play ACFC.  

mezzo forte noises!

Hasta pronto baby!

Game day vs. Wanderers today. Hoping to see Ernie put out the best available XI we have with only 4 weeks til the season starts.