History for mjp2

I don't know how much to read into this.  Ernie seems to be deliberately playing them fatigued.  

I probably missed the first 15 and a bit after half time, but we often looked like a horrible 7-1-2 dropping very deep and with very little control in the midfield, not very fluent playing out and mostly very little width.  Just one very fluent play out from the back and down the left side that I recall, otherwise pretty messy.  And our press looked pretty ineffective to non-existent.

But lousy conditions, players that looked lethargic and playing with some care on a slippery surface.  And a pretty well organised and disciplined ACFC with some good pace.  I didn't think there was much intensity in the game from the Nix. 

Also A-Rod coming back and looking a bit rusty, a trialist fitting in, Sarpong having his first run in front of his midfield and Sig out again - so another backline rejig; all reason to lack cohesion.

ACFC looked the better organised team and played well but, again, not sure we should read too much into it.

Hopefully the Sydney games are a better read of where we are at, but despite the wins there I got the impression we were a bit flattered by the scores.

"

“I don’t think we played our best today but it has been a hard week of training and you have to give credit for the way they closed us down,” Merrick said.

“I think we are ready for the start of the season because it has been a good pre-season in which we have scored 33 goals in 12 games and defended pretty well.

"
Read more at http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/article/phoenix-...

I'm open minded on just where we are at, and reasonably hopeful.  But hopefully we will also get lucky, without any significant injuries to Fenton, Sig and Dura through the season.

I don't know how much to read into this.  Ernie seems to be deliberately playing them fatigued.  

I probably missed the first 15 and a bit after half time, but we often looked like a horrible 7-1-2 dropping very deep and with very little control in the midfield, not very fluent playing out and mostly very little width.  Just one very fluent play out from the back and down the left side that I recall, otherwise pretty messy.  And our press looked pretty ineffective to non-existent.

But lousy conditions, players that looked lethargic and playing with some care on a slippery surface.  And a pretty well organised and disciplined ACFC with some good pace.  I didn't think there was much intensity in the game from the Nix. 

Also A-Rod coming back and looking a bit rusty, a trialist fitting in, Sarpong having his first run in front of his midfield and Sig out again - so another backline rejig; all reason to lack cohesion.

ACFC looked the better organised team and played well but, again, not sure we should read too much into it.

Hopefully the Sydney games are a better read of where we are at, but despite the wins there I got the impression we were a bit flattered by the scores.

"

“I don’t think we played our best today but it has been a hard week of training and you have to give credit for the way they closed us down,” Merrick said.

“I think we are ready for the start of the season because it has been a good pre-season in which we have scored 33 goals in 12 games and defended pretty well.

"

I'm open minded on just where we are at, and reasonably hopeful.  But hopefully we will also get lucky, without any significant injuries to Fenton, Sig and Dura through the season.