I am genuinely starting to think we are going to slip out of the top 6.
We might be able to Steven Bradbury this, I think. If Sydney & Adelaide don't lose & CCM + City win next weekend, we just need to avoid our GD being destroyed to make it.
nah, 2 games to go, WSW and MacArthur. We've beaten WSW twice this season so there is nothing really to fear with them, their form hasn't been that great (win, draw, loss, win, loss). MacArthur are dire withoutn Uli. Thye havent won in the last 5 so we should go there with some confidence. Minimum 4 points puts us on 36 which secures 6th at least. If Sydeny then win their last two against Roar and Jets. If they lose or draw one of those then we have 5th - 4th is gone so no home semi this year.
We might sneak into the Top 6, but honestly, how can we expect a rejuvenated Nix after the past 5 weeks?
No matter who we play (if we sneak in), I don't see us being competitive at all.
I know we are playing absolute dogshark, but against the Mariners we would at least be some chance. We have managed this season against them, a confidence boosting 2D & 1W. Then it's just a laager, round the wagons, us against them mentality, for possibly Talay's last game ever at the Nix. Put all bad karma aside for a week and give it a lash.
But we have recently been hammered visiting both Adelaide & Western Sydney. Those mental scars won't be so easy to overcome.
Great results for us tonight (Newcastle and Western United both losing), if Perth lose tomorrow we should make the 6 even if we lose vs the Bulls (unless we lose by a few then GD might matter).
Perth win or even draw tomorrow vs Adelaide (who at least have top 2 to fight for) and things get interesting, Perth is historically pretty good at home when it matters. Perth Win and they are on 31 points only 1 point below the Nix, with a home match against Western next week. Even a draw and Perth is still a threat (would make them 3 below the Nix, but similar GD).
At least we now know that a win vs the Bulls is definitely enough. A draw will only not be enough if one or both of Perth & Brisbane win today/tomorrow. But agree that if we don't win vs Macarthur then there is a snowball's chance in hell we get through the first playoff game. Need some sort of confidence/momentum/morale even, seems like it is not a happy camp at the moment by the looks of the body language/interviews.
Glory go into the Final round needing us to lose to Macarthur, them to beat Western at home & an 3 goal swing to get ahead of us. They are a real possibility to do that.
I’m looking at the table thinking how good we must have been playing to be able to only get one point from the last five games and still be in contention to play finals football. These seasons of unrealized potential are just…
I’m looking at the table thinking how good we must have been playing to be able to only get one point from the last five games and still be in contention to play finals football. These seasons of unrealized potential are just…
A Delorean for Christmas please!
We were in serious contention for the Top 4 before the wheels fell off.
I’m looking at the table thinking how good we must have been playing to be able to only get one point from the last five games and still be in contention to play finals football. These seasons of unrealized potential are just…
A Delorean for Christmas please!
We were in serious contention for the Top 4 before the wheels fell off.
I’m looking at the table thinking how good we must have been playing to be able to only get one point from the last five games and still be in contention to play finals football. These seasons of unrealized potential are just…
A Delorean for Christmas please!
We were in serious contention for the Top 4 before the wheels fell off.
My point exactly, in an earlier post in the Ufuk Talay thread. Although my own thought was that other teams really stepped up since then, the truth is that some of our players must have dropped the ball mentally at some point to suddenly play like preschoolers. Either that, or it is something (an internal conflict) we will never know about.
Is the state of the table this year a reflection that maybe we shouldn't have a six-team finals? The table would suggest we have one team clear ahead of the rest, three which are competitive, and then five or six more which just aren't that good. No team in fifth or six has ever made the grand final in the nine years that the six-team format has been used. Should we just be scrapping it and having a four-team finals series? Maybe with home and away semi final fixtures if we don't want to cut too many games?
Is the state of the table this year a reflection that maybe we shouldn't have a six-team finals? The table would suggest we have one team clear ahead of the rest, three which are competitive, and then five or six more which just aren't that good. No team in fifth or six has ever made the grand final in the nine years that the six-team format has been used. Should we just be scrapping it and having a four-team finals series? Maybe with home and away semi final fixtures if we don't want to cut too many games?
Totally agree, but the aussies love their finals series and grand final even if it doesnt involve the team that finished top of the league. Personally I hate the finals series, let the team that finsihed top be the winners - there's no need to find yet another winner in a cpntrived finals series which invovles half the teams in the league.
Is the state of the table this year a reflection that maybe we shouldn't have a six-team finals? The table would suggest we have one team clear ahead of the rest, three which are competitive, and then five or six more which just aren't that good. No team in fifth or six has ever made the grand final in the nine years that the six-team format has been used. Should we just be scrapping it and having a four-team finals series? Maybe with home and away semi final fixtures if we don't want to cut too many games?
Totally agree, but the aussies love their finals series and grand final even if it doesnt involve the team that finished top of the league. Personally I hate the finals series, let the team that finsihed top be the winners - there's no need to find yet another winner in a cpntrived finals series which invovles half the teams in the league.
Money. The ALM had to scrap together a TV deal with Paramount worth about 50% less than what they had with Fox. The finals bring more eyeballs to the code, and the GF (unless it's involving teams with no fans like Melb City/WUN) sells out.
No finals series less TV money. Less gate receipts. You want a Nix club to support, and the ALM to survive - finals are a must have.
Is the state of the table this year a reflection that maybe we shouldn't have a six-team finals? The table would suggest we have one team clear ahead of the rest, three which are competitive, and then five or six more which just aren't that good. No team in fifth or six has ever made the grand final in the nine years that the six-team format has been used. Should we just be scrapping it and having a four-team finals series? Maybe with home and away semi final fixtures if we don't want to cut too many games?
Worse last season when the Nix with a -15 GD were 6th, and got a playoff spot. And they were a comfortable 6 points clear of MAC in 7th!
The Finals are about trying to keep the fans interest in the Competition for longer. We have known City have won the Premiers Plate for months & there is no relegation scrap to play out. People's interest already wanes once the NRL/AFL kick off, dropping the Finals would remove any reason for watching the A-League after February in most seasons.
It’s the Europa conference. Most teams could still make the six up until the last couple of weeks. Something to keep fighting for amongst the bottom teams.
This is not how we envisaged the season ending. No one knows this more than (the coach), all the football staff, and the players. They universally accept you have every right to be upset and angry and to voice those feelings as fervently as you have been doing.
Is the state of the table this year a reflection that maybe we shouldn't have a six-team finals? The table would suggest we have one team clear ahead of the rest, three which are competitive, and then five or six more which just aren't that good. No team in fifth or six has ever made the grand final in the nine years that the six-team format has been used. Should we just be scrapping it and having a four-team finals series? Maybe with home and away semi final fixtures if we don't want to cut too many games?
Worse last season when the Nix with a -15 GD were 6th, and got a playoff spot. And they were a comfortable 6 points clear of MAC in 7th!
Last season we'd already qualified by the last game and despite our goal difference when we had a sniff of points, we fought like heck for the 90+ minutes to make them happen.
Our attack this season is better than last but that withstanding we were a better team last year.
Season ain't over yet. Would look defeated when there is still a regular season game and a finals series to win.
We are in a situation where it seems a large proportion of fans don't *WANT* us to make the finals because we'll just get owned and embarrassed anyway, and it would distract attention from the whole-sale clearout of players (and possibly of management) that is necessary to have a non-embarrassing team next year. There appears to be a feeling that the players themselves have given up and are throwing games (Ufuk is getting the blame from some but Oli Sail seems to confirm that it's the players who are ignoring his instructions).
Season ain't over yet. Would look defeated when there is still a regular season game and a finals series to win.
We are in a situation where it seems a large proportion of fans don't *WANT* us to make the finals because we'll just get owned and embarrassed anyway, and it would distract attention from the whole-sale clearout of players (and possibly of management) that is necessary to have a non-embarrassing team next year. There appears to be a feeling that the players themselves have given up and are throwing games (Ufuk is getting the blame from some but Oli Sail seems to confirm that it's the players who are ignoring his instructions).
I think the opposite. I think that the players are unable to express themselves under Uffie. He's great at bringing the right players in, he's great with the tactics but it all falls down with his man management. I listen to him on the sidelines and I think that I could never have kicked a ball under him in my playing days.
Season ain't over yet. Would look defeated when there is still a regular season game and a finals series to win.
We are in a situation where it seems a large proportion of fans don't *WANT* us to make the finals because we'll just get owned and embarrassed anyway, and it would distract attention from the whole-sale clearout of players (and possibly of management) that is necessary to have a non-embarrassing team next year. There appears to be a feeling that the players themselves have given up and are throwing games (Ufuk is getting the blame from some but Oli Sail seems to confirm that it's the players who are ignoring his instructions).
I'm not sure how many of those fans represent in regards to the % of fans.
I definitely don't understand that perspective, I want my team to win.
Season ain't over yet. Would look defeated when there is still a regular season game and a finals series to win.
We are in a situation where it seems a large proportion of fans don't *WANT* us to make the finals because we'll just get owned and embarrassed anyway, and it would distract attention from the whole-sale clearout of players (and possibly of management) that is necessary to have a non-embarrassing team next year. There appears to be a feeling that the players themselves have given up and are throwing games (Ufuk is getting the blame from some but Oli Sail seems to confirm that it's the players who are ignoring his instructions).
While this is thought-provoking, I do not see any evidence that "a large proportion" of fans think that. Strong feelings (as in "comments") are largely from those fans that are the loudest. I suspect that a large proportion of fans turn up to the games but do not comment or post here, because I am not seeing a thousand of different posters here, or in the comments in "Stuff" etc.
As to comments from people who turn up to the games - I was at Eden Park for the Roar game and the people behind me kept up a continuous running commentary about how disgusted they were with both Ufuk's tactics and the team's performance. It really irritated me, but it's something that happens in real life
I don't really understand the whole sentiment around not wanting us to be in the finals. If we can get a confidence-boosting win against MacArthur anything can happen in a finals game and just playing in a finals game can give players that extra 10% of effort. It is unlikely we will get past the first round but if we do get past it we will get a home playoff game in the next round which will be huge for the club to get hopefully a packed-out crowd to send Uffie off even if we do bow out in the semis.
As to comments from people who turn up to the games - I was at Eden Park for the Roar game and the people behind me kept up a continuous running commentary about how disgusted they were with both Ufuk's tactics and the team's performance. It really irritated me, but it's something that happens in real life
I would suggest that the group behind you were a minority of "fans".
I don't really understand the whole sentiment around not wanting us to be in the finals. If we can get a confidence-boosting win against MacArthur anything can happen in a finals game and just playing in a finals game can give players that extra 10% of effort. It is unlikely we will get past the first round but if we do get past it we will get a home playoff game in the next round which will be huge for the club to get hopefully a packed-out crowd to send Uffie off even if we do bow out in the semis.
There is a real chance CCM will finish 3rd. The Nix have a 1W & 2D against them this season.
A heap is gonna depend of how they go against MAC. Another limp loss, but still sneak into 6th - and yes it will take a bit of a miracle to win against anyone in the playoff. If they can sort out their differences, and play with some heart/grit against MAC that will be a huge boost.
Adelaide (2nd, 42 pts) hosting CCM (3rd, 41 pts) is actually a huge game this Friday night. Both teams gunning for 2nd and first week of the playoffs off.
WSW (4th, also 41 pts same GD as CCM) travel in Melb City in another big game. Top 4 teams all playing each other.
Melb City win, and CCM get a draw. Would see Adelaide 2nd, CCM 3rd & WSW 4th. Melb City win, and CCM a narrower defeat to Adelaide than WSW losing to MC, would see CCM 3rd on GD.
So Nix will be watching Friday night games closely. I'm sure they want a Gosford trip for the playoffs, given their recent trips to Adelaide & Parramtta have been awful.
As to comments from people who turn up to the games - I was at Eden Park for the Roar game and the people behind me kept up a continuous running commentary about how disgusted they were with both Ufuk's tactics and the team's performance. It really irritated me, but it's something that happens in real life
This is a good argument. These people may be annoying, but they actually pay to watch the team play, even if it is a one-off (or infrequent) Auckland game.
