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

Just looking at the highlights, ACFC looked good compared with us.

http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/article/phoenix-end-preseason/m11y57kazsxz1ulphpkxr8m9y

there is a photo to add to the collection. 

geee we look awful. hope the jets have had a horrid off season or we maybe competing with them for the spoon!

i agree that we should be well ahead of them in terms of cohesion etc, but auckland city are a very good outfit

An honourable away draw and a crucial point 

The scoreline flattered us. Our two goals came from absolutely nothing, and struggled to create meaningful opportunities. The back 3 were struggling with the pace of ACFC up front in the first half, and with a lot of changes in the second it was an absolute shambles. On a different day this could/should have been 3-0/4-1 to ACFC.

Enjoyed the game, but thought we were very sloppy. Scared to see us play the likes of the Victory! 

What about Sydney?!!!

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.

Looking forward to the real stuff starting.

great idea!!!

I always thought there was scope for ASB winner vs Nix game. In fact it would make a tidy little preseason tournament if you had Auckland, Waitak, Team Wellington all play and then a grand final. You could sell that concept to the media and fans and maybe even TV.

As for this game. How good a coach is Ramon?......Auckland only been training for a few weeks and he puts out a side that is extremely well drilled and with good tactics. i can;t believe he has not good a gig higher up the food chain

Totally agree with your last comment a10 - what is up with that?

The keeping and defending from both teams looked decidedly like hung over Sunday league on the TV3 (ACFC?) highlights. The shooting very poor too. 

Woeful in fact. Both teams. Based on that evidence.

Would like him at the Nix when Ernie moves on. 

I can hear the knitting needles snapping now

Too cold

So, no Danaskos Moment then?

Seconds after posting that, this: http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/article/phoenix-s...

So I guess we did have our Danaskos Moment after all!

On Saturday: While Merrick is in the market for a left-sided player who can cover centre back and fullback, he said he wouldn't be rushing to sign Danaskos despite the 23-year-old putting in an assured performance. I thought he did really well but we won't be making any decision on him just yet. (http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/7245176...)

And then apparently on Sunday we signed him. 

Wonder what changed.

Reckon that's what Ernie meant.

A good night sleep?

Was he impressive vs. Auckland City? Any better than what we got or will he just add to squad depth? A one year deal to me kind of suggests the latter.

I'm going to christen him NewManny.

Also if McGlinchey is WeeMac should McGarry be BigMac*?

*This should in no way be seen as an endorsement of the product and I apologise for any breach of Trademark.  Please don't sue me JoJo.

He looked in no way out of place, worked hard and even scored.

"Chris (Greenacre) and I had done our homework on the player and knew he had been on the radar of several A-League clubs including Wanderers and Sydney."

Simple.

Ernie and Greenie sat down and read the Forums

If by 'on the radar' you mean 'reject by last year' , then sure.

If by 'on the radar' you mean 'rejected by last year' , then sure.

He played for WSW against us during pre-season.

Ah ok. Thank you.