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

1. Wellington Phoenix ‏@WgtnPhoenixFC 5h5 hours ago

   FINAL SCORE | Phoenix 4 (Krishna 3, Mcglinchey 1) - @Redgoldblood Stop Out 1 (Brinkley) at Fraser Park Sportsville in Lower Hutt #coyn

   5 retweets 3 favorites

That was very very cold tonight

Here is my write up on the game

thanks for the write up. Amazing that Roy can score a hat trick or even play in such antarctic conditions

4 layers. Ski jacket, 3 pairs of socks.  Forgot gloves, but other than that mostly warm and toasty. 

I think I've finally thawed out now.

Blake Powell still around?

Didn't play.

Any standouts? Or standins?

Pretty much all first teamers plus 90 for Justin Gulley.  Ridenton and Vinnie on at the half for Siggy and Albert.  Tam and Luke Tongue (I think) on late from the WeeNix.

Italiano in goal.

I thought both Doyle and Gulley (left and right midfield/wing backs respectively) both had good run outs.. although I'd like to see Gulley hitting a few earlier crosses after being played into excellent space by Albert, Roly, Wee Mac, Siggy and Durra.

Siggy is looking VERY trimmed down. Never seen him looking so fit.

I thought the centre mid pairing of Albert and Roly was sublime, but they were not playing MVC, so maybe it was misleading.

Must have been a HUGE shock returning from BA to a freezing Fraser Park. DAMN it was cold!

Appiah continues to develop nicely.

The structure of the Nix midfield evaporated in the second half - we went from 3 - 4 - 3 to "5 to 8" at the back and no one in the midfield and two up front. Vinnie looked frustrated at times not having any outlets in front of him.

I miss getting f&c and heading along to these games.  Then again.... 

No fish and chips last night either. Trying to convince the club to hire Greek Food Truck for the games next week.

Tomorrow Tuesday 21st @ Alex Moore Park, Johnsonville.

Nah, Petone @ Petone 6.45pm.

3-3.  3-0 down early in the 2nd half, got it back to 3-1 before the WeeNix kids came on and saved it with goals to McGarry and Rogerson (made by Singh).

Underwhelming but so was last preseason, I guess.

Bouquet, from the times I've seen them this season and tonight, Petone are a good unit. Nice developed play, in patches.

Barcia from Olympic playing for Petone.

Two games in twio nights taking it easy?

How good did the kids look though?

They certainly looked polished and composed. Plenty of long passages of passing moving the ball up one wing, back, across the back, up the other wing, and through the middle... good movement, good talking, and creating good chances.

And two headed goals!

Don't buy that.

Clutching at straws.  They looked much better and more slick last week.

Petone genuinely looked better than Stop Out though.

The first half was very poor from a Phoenix perspective. Sure they pushed the ball about and held on to it for long periods  but it took them until one minute from half time before they had their first shot at goal.

At one stage they won a fee kick about 30 metres out in a good position to set up a strike at goal but no, the ball was pushed backward and around until they lost it. Meanwhile, Petone defended with ease, got forward on plenty of occasions and were prepared to have a go at goal.

The only bright spot was the Weenix players who came on in the second half and turned around what would have been an embarrassing lose.

The game made me think that the Phoenix players were specifically working on holding onto the ball, pushing it around midfield and not being too concerned with getting a shot on target at the end of it.

how is Appiah looking cos he was genuinely shark when he played last season?

Why was Mario playing for Petone? Seems odd given he's still at Olympic and transfer window is closed.

To be fair, he didn't have a whole lot of chances.

Anyone able to post line ups and subs vs Petone?

Starting XI:

 Italiano 

Lia  Dura    Muscat 

Fenton                            Doyle 

            Riera       Roly 

             McGlinchey 

   Appiah            Krishna

Subs: Halftime: Lia and Doyle off, Ridenton and McGarry on.

60': Dura, Roly, Krishna, McGlinchey off. Cahill-Fleury, Rodgerson, Phillips and Singh on. 

70': Appiah off Bell on.

Thanks

Was impressed with Rogerson for the U20's ; looks like he's progressing pretty quickly?

Think Durante was on the right. Lia centre.

New Zealand’s Best Footballers head to New Plymouth

Football Family Pre-sale Opportunity

The Wellington Phoenix will head to New Plymouth for a pre-season game against New Zealand A this August.

The afternoon game on Sunday 23 August at Yarrow Stadium will give locals the chance to see New Zealand’s only professional football team play against a New Zealand Football selection which will include current All White’s players.

Wellington Phoenix Head Coach Ernie Merrick is looking forward to taking his team to New Plymouth.

“The game against New Zealand A is an integral part of our per-season programme,” says Mr Merrick.

“It will give us an idea of where we are at and it is also good for New Zealand Football to get another game under the belt of domestic-based players. We have played New Zealand A in each of our last two pre-seasons and it has been well worthwhile.

“It is also an opportunity to let a football area like New Plymouth see the Phoenix players in the flesh.”

The Wellington Phoenix in the only New Zealand Football Club participating in the Australian Hyundai A-League and has played finals football twice in the last five seasons.

Both the Phoenix and New Zealand A squads will be in the region for three days before the game, and the public will have opportunities to see the players during community activities.

The game kicks off at 1.30pm at Yarrow Stadium on Sunday 23 August.

Football Family Pre-sale Window starts today!

Wellington Phoenix Season Ticket holders, Members and Football Family subscribers can secure your tickets now in an exclusive online pre-sale window from 10am Wednesday 22 July until 5pm Sunday 26 July available only through this link http://www.ticketdirect.co.nz/event/details/132471 using the promo code phoenix. Tickets are discounted in some categories for this pre-sale window only.

Make it a weekend in New Plymouth! Book before Monday 27 July for just $199 (usual price $229), including accommodation in a twin or double room on Sat 22 August, breakfast and late check out at the Plymouth International Hotel plus Cat A tickets for the game – FOR TWO PEOPLE. Details at http://www.ticketdirect.co.nz/event/details/132471

Tickets start from $15 for adults and $5 for children, and are on general public sale from Monday 27 July at www.ticketdirect.co.nz, TSB Showplace and at i-SITES around the Taranaki region.

Y'all should def get into this. Yarrow is an awesome stadium.

Not as awesome as Cuba though.

Fever corporate?

Squeeeeee

Nix lining up as:

Mambo

Gulley Dura Doyle

McGarry Ridenton Roly Fenton

Rogerson Phillips Appiah

#NixPreseason

— Brandon Clarke (@kiwibardy) July 22, 2015