Australia Cup vs Nunawading City FC | Sun 10th Aug | 5:00pm | YouTube

Themooseman

the discord got so bored it started talking about ncea and school rather than the game. that has to be a new low for the nix

 
AFC troll says what? 

Preseason game. Result. Run out for new signings. 

And no way is this a low bud, you’ve no idea. Hopefully the league will produce some great teams from Melbourne, Adelaide or elsewhere that’ll teach Auckland all about it. Who knows it might even be a Nix team, after they’ve settled a bit. 

Hughes continues to look good - but outside him whose stocks do we actually think have risen from the first team since the end of last season?

And don't use the whole, pre-season has just started crap - it has for all the other A League teams, and they look a lot better than us. Even Perth did, despite us knicking the win.

It's the same problem as last year, too slow on attack, no creativity, lots of mindless recycling of the ball etc etc.

I can not take another season like last year!!

A game against a lowly ranked opposition should be perfect for practicing creative attacking play but instead all we had was hopeful crosses from wide. Could we be worse than last year? 

I wonder if *anyone* remembers what this forum was saying 2 years ago this very month.

Hint: it was something like "what a bunch of crap players we've signed. No expectations for this season, probably wooden spoon. The Wahinix will do really well though!"

anaveragestem

MetalLegNZ

We shouldn't celebrate... that was absolute sharke.

But... to be honest it is what I expected when Chief was resigned. 

The players we have lost are better than what we have brought in and unless we sign an absolute gun 10 who never gets injured we are in for another long season.

I personally think too many of our players aren't good enough, but more importantly, I think our coach isn't.

So negative, well before the season even starts. Why? Give them a chance I say.

Both MV and MC - the best two sides at the end of the last ALeague season have been cupset in the previous round. I don't expect them to be down the bottom of the ALeague. 

We are still in the cup and playing mostly academy players to start matches. Let me be clear, other than seeing new signings and how they play these games have next to no bearing on how we may look once the season starts

What do I have to be positive about... a decent corner doesn't make a player. Armiento's free kick before that in a good position went straight out the back etc. We are pinning our attack on a 17 and 18 year old with 1 goal between them and a guy who outside 1 good season last year in the Iraqi league to bang in the goals (whilst losing a proven goal scorer at this level in Kosta)

I have supported the phoenix since day 1 and the last 12 months have been horrible to watch as a fan - and tonights result reinforces that. Tonights team is steering down relegation from their states 3rd division. It's like Man Utd losing to a national league team. 

I love the fact that we promote youth, but it needs to be done with experience.

I mean, look at our Jap imports... both had very poor seasons in my opinion, and yet they are still here. Did the club try to get mutuals for them.

All of our remaining imports from last season should have been moved on - but here we are, hoping somehow they will be better this year, apparently playing in the same system... with maybe a slightly higher press.

Rufer is the only player we are missing from our squad today who is a locked in starter.

Embarrasing. Fire Chief, give mutuals to the imports and show some intent like we have with the womens team.

Well Payney’s are still fairly high. Armiento and Eze obviously! 

Josh has recovered some of the ground he lost after getting the yips post-Auckland. 

LKH wasn’t great today but hit a goal and a good penalty last time. 

Ishige’s scored a clutch goal there. Nagasawa has done a lot of running and captained us to 3 cup wins. Retre looked better than low division amateurs today. 

LBS had a good game against Perth. I thought Smith was okay and Loke was okay- though maybe I’m still influenced by his previous late cup assist which was mustard!

Anyone who took a successful penalty in the appalling weather against Perth. They had power, control and lift. Impressive stuff. 

This lad McCarron. 

Hard on Conchie, but he would be better next to Rufer. 
Walker by benefit of not playing showed his composure and work ethic. Rufer ditto. 

I’m still hoping we’ll see Ishige a bit deeper linking play, and creating from deep and Nagasawa further forward. 

At the least we’ll see Rufer back and a fitter Eze (headers back where they came from! Worked for Smeltz). Hopefully Walker too. 

Supyk hasn’t shown much yet, but the VAR may help players there. There was a great early ball to Ishige from Nagasawa got ruled off too. 

Hoping we’ll pick up at least 2-3 players to strengthen our spine.

I understand MetalLeg, but also Auckland are just playing their team from last season. They’re mostly identical. We’re genuinely rebuilding and hopefully changing our  style. Hopefully we can strengthen a bit more than we have and surprise teams. We’ve already done well on our finals run practice! 

Only a banana skin can really come from playing in the burbs and rurals. Negotiated.

martinb

I’m still hoping we’ll see Ishige a bit deeper linking play, and creating from deep and Nagasawa further forward. 

At the least we’ll see Rufer back and a fitter Eze (headers back where they came from! Worked for Smeltz). Hopefully Walker too. 

Supyk hasn’t shown much yet, but the VAR may help players there. There was a great early ball to Ishige from Nagasawa got ruled off too. 

Hoping we’ll pick up at least 2-3 players to strengthen our spine.

I understand MetalLeg, but also Auckland are just playing their team from last season. They’re mostly identical. We’re genuinely rebuilding and hopefully changing our  style. Hopefully we can strengthen a bit more than we have and surprise teams. We’ve already done well on our finals run practice! 

Only a banana skin can really come from playing in the burbs and rurals. Negotiated.

We're genuinely rebuilding every year

MetalLegNZ

anaveragestem

MetalLegNZ

We shouldn't celebrate... that was absolute sharke.

But... to be honest it is what I expected when Chief was resigned. 

The players we have lost are better than what we have brought in and unless we sign an absolute gun 10 who never gets injured we are in for another long season.

I personally think too many of our players aren't good enough, but more importantly, I think our coach isn't.

So negative, well before the season even starts. Why? Give them a chance I say.

Both MV and MC - the best two sides at the end of the last ALeague season have been cupset in the previous round. I don't expect them to be down the bottom of the ALeague. 

We are still in the cup and playing mostly academy players to start matches. Let me be clear, other than seeing new signings and how they play these games have next to no bearing on how we may look once the season starts

What do I have to be positive about... a decent corner doesn't make a player. Armiento's free kick before that in a good position went straight out the back etc. We are pinning our attack on a 17 and 18 year old with 1 goal between them and a guy who outside 1 good season last year in the Iraqi league to bang in the goals (whilst losing a proven goal scorer at this level in Kosta)

I have supported the phoenix since day 1 and the last 12 months have been horrible to watch as a fan - and tonights result reinforces that. Tonights team is steering down relegation from their states 3rd division. It's like Man Utd losing to a national league team. 

I love the fact that we promote youth, but it needs to be done with experience.

I mean, look at our Jap imports... both had very poor seasons in my opinion, and yet they are still here. Did the club try to get mutuals for them.

All of our remaining imports from last season should have been moved on - but here we are, hoping somehow they will be better this year, apparently playing in the same system... with maybe a slightly higher press.

Rufer is the only player we are missing from our squad today who is a locked in starter.

Embarrasing. Fire Chief, give mutuals to the imports and show some intent like we have with the womens team.

since I have started watching football 15 odd years ago ive seen plenty of weird results. I've come to understand that football has a lot of upsets which is why we see the two best Aleague sides eliminated in the previous round by NPL sides. Losses happen.

Key in point your example of Manchester united. I checked and they in fact lost to third division Leeds united at Old Trafford in 2010. Manchester United also went on to win that year's Premier League and were probably the best team in the world at the time. 

I strongly refute that we are to Nunawading like what Man U are to a National league team as what you said in your comment above. That is simply not a valid comparison, we are not even close to that level above them and no ALeague side would fit that comparison.

You are being intentionally negative and for no good reason, but that's fine youre entitled to your opinion I guess

I know I said I wasn't going to watch the second half, but I succumbed to it in the end. Pulling me in like all good slow moving trainwrecks do.

Thoughts from the game - A game that I was really looking forward to in terms of building on our attacking blueprint against what I can only assume were a team of plumbers and tradesmen...

Very, very slow advancement of the ball. It was 24/25 all over again, just against poorer opposition than we're accustomed to in the A-League. I really wanted to see something from us today - Playing on the front foot and getting in behind them and banging in a few goals to help build the confidence. Instead, it was disjointed and incohesive for the vast majority.

If anyone is thinking we still need a visa CB over a creative #10 after this one, well, I have some magic beans I need to sell ya's!

As for the players - LBS was pretty much invisible before being hooked, and GSR while slightly more involved in play overall, well this showed that we simply can't rely on them both for our creative output this season. A proven and more experienced #10 needs to be the priority here to help take the weight of expectation off the shoulders of these young lads and allowing them to get into games by not being completely drowned out as seemingly our only creative outlets. 

I was disappointed by Conchie today as well. I really want this lad to be the next emerging midfielder of note in this country, but since his exploits for NZ at the U20 World Cup a few years back now he just hasn't come on and developed as I was hoping he would for us.

Happy for McCarron - Clean sheet on debut at 17 years old. He can be pleased with that one. Didn't have much to do overall, but we'll take that. Looks a big unit too! Thought Loke was good, but he did look a bit more reserved in getting forward compared to his outing against Perth a couple of weeks back.

From his cameo, Armiento could be a good little pick up for us. At least it looks like he wants to drive the play forward and get on the front foot which is a positive, when all and sundry around him looked a bit sheepish in doing so. I think Eze will also cause a few problems for opposition once he gets into it, as he looks a good athlete who is up for the fight. And well, it's just good to have what looks like an aerial presence up top compared to what we went with last season!

Overall I wish I could get that 90 minutes of my life back. But at least we get another competitive fixture to look forward to in a couple of weeks time.

I hope we sign a #10....Please!!!! 

anaveragestem

MetalLegNZ

We shouldn't celebrate... that was absolute sharke.

But... to be honest it is what I expected when Chief was resigned. 

The players we have lost are better than what we have brought in and unless we sign an absolute gun 10 who never gets injured we are in for another long season.

I personally think too many of our players aren't good enough, but more importantly, I think our coach isn't.

So negative, well before the season even starts. Why? Give them a chance I say.

Both MV and MC - the best two sides at the end of the last ALeague season have been cupset in the previous round. I don't expect them to be down the bottom of the ALeague. 

We are still in the cup and playing mostly academy players to start matches. Let me be clear, other than seeing new signings and how they play these games have next to no bearing on how we may look once the season starts

All you say may be true but its also true that in 2 cup games so far we have shown little improvement from last year and i think its perfectly reasonable for people to express their concern at how things are looking. 
Despite what you say we arnt starting mostly Academy players, today only GSR and Loke could possibly be said to be academy players and both of them spent time with the A League team last year. Against perth maybe but not today.
Think its fine for people to question how we look to be playing even this early in surely we can expect there to be some improvement on last season. But that sure as hell dosnt look to be the case.

anaveragestem

MetalLegNZ

anaveragestem

MetalLegNZ

We shouldn't celebrate... that was absolute sharke.

But... to be honest it is what I expected when Chief was resigned. 

The players we have lost are better than what we have brought in and unless we sign an absolute gun 10 who never gets injured we are in for another long season.

I personally think too many of our players aren't good enough, but more importantly, I think our coach isn't.

So negative, well before the season even starts. Why? Give them a chance I say.

Both MV and MC - the best two sides at the end of the last ALeague season have been cupset in the previous round. I don't expect them to be down the bottom of the ALeague. 

We are still in the cup and playing mostly academy players to start matches. Let me be clear, other than seeing new signings and how they play these games have next to no bearing on how we may look once the season starts

What do I have to be positive about... a decent corner doesn't make a player. Armiento's free kick before that in a good position went straight out the back etc. We are pinning our attack on a 17 and 18 year old with 1 goal between them and a guy who outside 1 good season last year in the Iraqi league to bang in the goals (whilst losing a proven goal scorer at this level in Kosta)

I have supported the phoenix since day 1 and the last 12 months have been horrible to watch as a fan - and tonights result reinforces that. Tonights team is steering down relegation from their states 3rd division. It's like Man Utd losing to a national league team. 

I love the fact that we promote youth, but it needs to be done with experience.

I mean, look at our Jap imports... both had very poor seasons in my opinion, and yet they are still here. Did the club try to get mutuals for them.

All of our remaining imports from last season should have been moved on - but here we are, hoping somehow they will be better this year, apparently playing in the same system... with maybe a slightly higher press.

Rufer is the only player we are missing from our squad today who is a locked in starter.

Embarrasing. Fire Chief, give mutuals to the imports and show some intent like we have with the womens team.

since I have started watching football 15 odd years ago ive seen plenty of weird results. I've come to understand that football has a lot of upsets which is why we see the two best Aleague sides eliminated in the previous round by NPL sides. Losses happen.

Key in point your example of Manchester united. I checked and they in fact lost to third division Leeds united at Old Trafford in 2010. Manchester United also went on to win that year's Premier League and were probably the best team in the world at the time. 

I strongly refute that we are to Nunawading like what Man U are to a National league team as what you said in your comment above. That is simply not a valid comparison, we are not even close to that level above them and no ALeague side would fit that comparison.

You are being intentionally negative and for no good reason, but that's fine youre entitled to your opinion I guess

I've watched plenty of footy too - and last years dross was about as bad as I can remember, despite the early season promises of attacking footy etc.

It never happened, which is why I feel like this years promise of being more attack minded is nothing but empty words based on our last two games.

Funny things happen in footy, 100%. But this wasn't a game we dominated only to conceed to a fluke goal and lose. We were poor outside the last 10 where we actually began to look a little threatening.

How many attacking corners do you expect Isighe to win in the A League... chances are he will sit on the edge of the box at best... he's no target, which makes his goal tonight even more of a fluke.

But in case I am being overly negative - what are the positives you saw from tonight. What excited you?

YoungHeartHM

Part of me wishes this one had gone to extra time as punishment tbh.

What's our side of the draw? WSW or Heidelberg next up?

 
Punishment for the players or for the fans?

And yeah we’ll find out Tuesday night which of those two we’re facing - I hear WSW have a new signing who might cause us trouble, Konstantinos Barbarousis or something?

Simon B

YoungHeartHM

Part of me wishes this one had gone to extra time as punishment tbh.

What's our side of the draw? WSW or Heidelberg next up?

 
Punishment for the players or for the fans?

And yeah we’ll find out Tuesday night which of those two we’re facing - I hear WSW have a new signing who might cause us trouble, Konstantinos Barbarousis or something?

Both!

Misery loves company and all that. 😅

The good news is a few of our lads looked capable of stepping up to NPL level.

McCarron aside, I'd say we started tonight with six still at best fairly inexperienced youngsters who ideally should not be A League starters.  So six of ten outfield players were youngsters:
Conchie, Sheridan, GSR, LBS, Loke and LKH.

Sure LKH has started the better part of a season's worth of games now. But who of you would be telling me he's yet an ideal starter? Sheridan a somewhat similar case. And the other guys have got reasonable playing time, sure, but don't tell me they are guys you want to see playing 70+ minutes of every A League game as starters - yet. Just no. 

So we started with six outfield youngsters. Seven counting the keeper.

LBS was subbed by Supyk, another non-starter. Retre replaced Payne, keeping us at six outfield non starters. Then Armiento replaced LKH fairly late and and a brand new to the team Eze replaced GSR.  So for only the last 20mins did we finally have a team with arguably six out of ten outfield players who were what I'd expect to be our outfield starter level. With Sheridan, Conchie, Supyk and Loke still on.

And most of the senior players I am classing as bonafide experienced starters aren't fully fit yet or were having their first minutes with the team this game. 

If we were to start with Armiento and Eze we would immediately get to six outfield starters to four younger players, instead of six youngsters dominating the outfield. Makes a heck of a difference. Add Rufer (and move one of Nagasawa, Retre, Ishige further forward) to replace another youngster, then we are at 7 starters and three youngsters.

Then sign the CB and midfield players who we are looking for as new starters, one a visa. And we would finally be looking at a seasoned team of 9 legitimate senior starters. Plus one of the better youngsters. 

It just seems to me we are starting with more than half an outfield of younger players and the other half senior players who mostly aren't fit yet. And six younger outfield players on together is not going to be anywhere near a starting A League level performance and will play less structured, less well directed and less controlled aka the sort of messy play we saw for much of tonight. And last game.

As Retre coming on and impacting the game from a central deep position showed, we'll be a lot better once the senior players are all back and fit.  Ditto for the period with Eze and Armiento also on.

The last twenty of minutes or so when we had six senior outfield players on was more like the standard we can expect to be at with starter quality, more experienced senior A League players. And we were totally all over Nunawading for that period.

Who hit that long shot? That was fairly amazing. Haven’t seen that from a Nix player since…Roly? Maybe Krishna? That was thumped with authority and moving in the air.

And I think the rebuild this year is a biggie. 
We’re rebuilding style, what should be a significant number of players and coaching staff. And our self respect etc. 

With Uffie we kept the same style and often had key continuity with players like Ball. Last season was just a dumpster fire. 

mjp2

McCarron aside, I'd say we started tonight with six still at best fairly inexperienced youngsters who ideally should not be A League starters.  So six of ten outfield players were youngsters:
Conchie, Sheridan, GSR, LBS, Loke and LKH.

Sure LKH has started the better part of a season's worth of games now. But who of you would be telling me he's yet an ideal starter? Sheridan a somewhat similar case. And the other guys have got reasonable playing time, sure, but don't tell me they are guys you want to see playing 70+ minutes of every A League game as starters - yet. Just no. 

So we started with six outfield youngsters. Seven counting the keeper.

LBS was subbed by Supyk, another non-starter. Retre replaced Payne, keeping us at six outfield non starters. Then Armiento replaced LKH fairly late and and a brand new to the team Eze replaced GSR.  So for only the last 20mins did we finally have a team with arguably six out of ten outfield players who were what I'd expect to be our outfield starter level. With Sheridan, Conchie, Supyk and Loke still on.

And most of the senior players I am classing as bonafide experienced starters aren't fully fit yet or were having their first minutes with the team this game. 

If we were to start with Armiento and Eze we would immediately get to six outfield starters to four younger players, instead of six youngsters dominating the outfield. Makes a heck of a difference. Add Rufer (and move one of Nagasawa, Retre, Ishige further forward) to replace another youngster, then we are at 7 starters and three youngsters.

Then sign the CB and midfield players who we are looking for as new starters, one a visa. And we would finally be looking at a seasoned team of 9 legitimate senior starters. Plus one of the better youngsters. 

It just seems to me we are starting with more than half an outfield of younger players and the other half senior players who mostly aren't fit yet. And six younger outfield players on together is not going to be anywhere near a starting A League level performance and will play less structured, less well directed and less controlled aka the sort of messy play we saw for much of tonight. And last game.

As Retre coming on and impacting the game from a central deep position showed, we'll be a lot better once the senior players are all back and fit.  Ditto for the period with Eze and Armiento also on.

The last twenty of minutes or so when we had six senior outfield players on was more like the standard we can expect to be at with starter quality, more experienced senior A League players. And we were totally all over Nunawading for that period.

Until we get a few injuries then its going to be up to the youngsters.....
Going to be a sink or swim year for the acadamy grads this season I think. See who can step up. Then 26/27 should bring a new coach. New imports. Youngsters that have shown they are at this level and can potentially earn a transfer fee overseas for the club.

martinb

Who hit that long shot? That was fairly amazing. Haven’t seen that from a Nix player since…Roly? Maybe Krishna? That was thumped with authority and moving in the air.

And I think the rebuild this year is a biggie. 
We’re rebuilding style, what should be a significant number of players and coaching staff. And our self respect etc. 

With Uffie we kept the same style and often had key continuity with players like Ball. Last season was just a dumpster fire. 

I think they said the long shot was from Sheridan.

I was impressed with Hughes, Sheridan, Retre.
LKH, Ishige, Nagasawa, Armiento were pretty good.
Eze definitely looks promising. 
A great strategy to delay scoring till the 94th minute, so all players had to work hard till the end! Bring on the next round. 

When was the Sheridan shot? Must've missed it when I needed to briefly leave the room.

I think it was much improved weather from the last game.

rua_taniwha

A game against a lowly ranked opposition should be perfect for practicing creative attacking play but instead all we had was hopeful crosses from wide. Could we be worse than last year? 

Yes.

HattyCW

When was the Sheridan shot? Must've missed it when I needed to briefly leave the room.

two minutes in here or about 81 minutes on the board.

Hard to know what to make of that match. With recruits getting their first minutes and players like Rufer still to come back there is obviously a big jump in quality to come. 
But what you can look at is our style of play.  For me the ghosts of last season still haunt this team. We are still ponderous in our build up. We still lack creativity. We still recycle backwards. 
Im trying to be positive. I liked Ezes debut and there were some ok flashes by others. But I cant see obvious signs that we are trying to play differently and thats a worry.

Why all the negativity, has everyone forgotten we beat Wrexham? 

Fitzy

Why all the negativity, has everyone forgotten we beat Wrexham? 

*Greenacre and the reserves beat Wrexham

I will take 3 wins on the trot, ugly or not. Flukes are also good when they belong to us. 

Monto

Fitzy

Why all the negativity, has everyone forgotten we beat Wrexham? 

*Greenacre and the reserves beat Wrexham

That's one way to read things, are you trying to say Chiefly wasn't overseeing anything of Greenies plan?

Anyway, a win is a win is a win, sure it wasn't pretty and sure it's fair to expect more from a Pro team against the lowest team in the lowest league. BUT! as we al know this is our preseason, the coach is clearly trying combinations and tactics to see who works where etc and Nunawading FC are at the end of their season, they are all match hardened, know their play well. 
First half we struggled to deal with their press, that should be a warning sign to Italiano that we are still struggling to break the press. Then there was the ref barely calling anything that would have been called last year - as I understand it this is a directive from the refs boss and league to allow the flow of the game to be better.

Some Positives, Armiento looked decent from the dead ball and Eze, albeit a little rusty (hasnt played since June) looked to have a good first touch and was very busy.

I really dislike the dumb negativity which is clearly still a hangover from last season, we've beaten Wrexham, Perth and Nunwading, we are still in the comp so take it and quit beating your biased drum.

Yeah, that was ugly. To go 45 minutes without a shot on target against a team about to get relegated from Div 3, who weren't even parking the bus in the first half, makes me worry about what we'll dish up against A-League opposition. Getting shots on target was a huge issue last season too. Need a good showing against WSW (assuming they get past Heidelberg) for the cautious optimism for the season ahead to return. 

mjp2

McCarron aside, I'd say we started tonight with six still at best fairly inexperienced youngsters who ideally should not be A League starters.  So six of ten outfield players were youngsters:
Conchie, Sheridan, GSR, LBS, Loke and LKH.

Sure LKH has started the better part of a season's worth of games now. But who of you would be telling me he's yet an ideal starter? Sheridan a somewhat similar case. And the other guys have got reasonable playing time, sure, but don't tell me they are guys you want to see playing 70+ minutes of every A League game as starters - yet. Just no. 

So we started with six outfield youngsters. Seven counting the keeper.

LBS was subbed by Supyk, another non-starter. Retre replaced Payne, keeping us at six outfield non starters. Then Armiento replaced LKH fairly late and and a brand new to the team Eze replaced GSR.  So for only the last 20mins did we finally have a team with arguably six out of ten outfield players who were what I'd expect to be our outfield starter level. With Sheridan, Conchie, Supyk and Loke still on.

And most of the senior players I am classing as bonafide experienced starters aren't fully fit yet or were having their first minutes with the team this game. 

If we were to start with Armiento and Eze we would immediately get to six outfield starters to four younger players, instead of six youngsters dominating the outfield. Makes a heck of a difference. Add Rufer (and move one of Nagasawa, Retre, Ishige further forward) to replace another youngster, then we are at 7 starters and three youngsters.

Then sign the CB and midfield players who we are looking for as new starters, one a visa. And we would finally be looking at a seasoned team of 9 legitimate senior starters. Plus one of the better youngsters. 

It just seems to me we are starting with more than half an outfield of younger players and the other half senior players who mostly aren't fit yet. And six younger outfield players on together is not going to be anywhere near a starting A League level performance and will play less structured, less well directed and less controlled aka the sort of messy play we saw for much of tonight. And last game.

As Retre coming on and impacting the game from a central deep position showed, we'll be a lot better once the senior players are all back and fit.  Ditto for the period with Eze and Armiento also on.

The last twenty of minutes or so when we had six senior outfield players on was more like the standard we can expect to be at with starter quality, more experienced senior A League players. And we were totally all over Nunawading for that period.

Regarding this part above from mjp2:
"McCarron aside, I'd say we started tonight with six still at best fairly inexperienced youngsters who ideally should not be A League starters.  So six of ten outfield players were youngsters: "Conchie, Sheridan, GSR, LBS, Loke and LKH."
I would not call Sheridan "an inexperienced youngster who ideally should not be A League starter".   There is a difference between being young (Sheridan is 21) and experience.  Definitely in his previous season he was very much work in progress with few appearances, but the last season had him turn out for the first team quite a lot, unlike the other five players mentioned in that paragraph.  
OK, so I may be a low-key Sheridan fan, as he is a local lad from Christchurch and all that.  But he was a solid player last night in a team where the Nix defence did all the right things.  
In contrast, it is our attack that showed last night that is either inexperienced (GSR, LBS, Loke) or outmuscled (Ishige, the goal aside). Hence the addition of Armiento and possibly Eze is promising.  Both have a bit of athleticism, and Armiento needs very little adjustment time to A-League environment.    

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

I was impressed with Hughes, Sheridan, Retre.
LKH, Ishige, Nagasawa, Armiento were pretty good.
Eze definitely looks promising. 
A great strategy to delay scoring till the 94th minute, so all players had to work hard till the end! Bring on the next round. 

Some people seemed to cringe at Eze's fluffed bicycle kick but at least it shows intent

Doloras

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

I was impressed with Hughes, Sheridan, Retre.
LKH, Ishige, Nagasawa, Armiento were pretty good.
Eze definitely looks promising. 
A great strategy to delay scoring till the 94th minute, so all players had to work hard till the end! Bring on the next round. 

Some people seemed to cringe at Eze's fluffed bicycle kick but at least it shows intent

commentary said exactly that, the shot wasnt really on and it was a little selfish but you cant coach that out of strikers you need them to be a little selfish.

theprof

Monto

Fitzy

Why all the negativity, has everyone forgotten we beat Wrexham? 

*Greenacre and the reserves beat Wrexham

That's one way to read things, are you trying to say Chiefly wasn't overseeing anything of Greenies plan?

Anyway, a win is a win is a win, sure it wasn't pretty and sure it's fair to expect more from a Pro team against the lowest team in the lowest league. BUT! as we al know this is our preseason, the coach is clearly trying combinations and tactics to see who works where etc and Nunawading FC are at the end of their season, they are all match hardened, know their play well. 
First half we struggled to deal with their press, that should be a warning sign to Italiano that we are still struggling to break the press. Then there was the ref barely calling anything that would have been called last year - as I understand it this is a directive from the refs boss and league to allow the flow of the game to be better.

Some Positives, Armiento looked decent from the dead ball and Eze, albeit a little rusty (hasnt played since June) looked to have a good first touch and was very busy.

I really dislike the dumb negativity which is clearly still a hangover from last season, we've beaten Wrexham, Perth and Nunwading, we are still in the comp so take it and quit beating your biased drum.

I'm quite positive about how Greenacre set up the team against Wrexham thank you very much. I thought he did a great job of setting up a fast paced, well organized, counter attack against the technically superior pro side that was deep into pre season. It was very tidy stuff.

I'm not giving any credit to Chief at this stage because I have not seen anything to suggest that there has been a shift in the way he is approaching this season tactical yet. Yes I'm aware it's early days but I don't see anything that aligns with more attacking football.

It's my opinion that he is a pretty rubbish coach that got very lucky in his first season. The stats more or less back that up. I'm also allowed that opinion, I don't have to shill for anything the club does.

So anyway, you take that and stop beating your biased drum eh.

For all the semi-positive reviews on him, I am getting so sick of LKH at LB/LWB. 
He is so far from the answer especially if you're setting up with 3 at the back.

Yes he does a job, and got on the end of a loose ball against perth for a goal but otherwise offers so little going forward, while presumably not being reliable enough defensively to ever get a go at CB

Monto

theprof

Monto

Fitzy

Why all the negativity, has everyone forgotten we beat Wrexham? 

*Greenacre and the reserves beat Wrexham

That's one way to read things, are you trying to say Chiefly wasn't overseeing anything of Greenies plan?

Anyway, a win is a win is a win, sure it wasn't pretty and sure it's fair to expect more from a Pro team against the lowest team in the lowest league. BUT! as we al know this is our preseason, the coach is clearly trying combinations and tactics to see who works where etc and Nunawading FC are at the end of their season, they are all match hardened, know their play well. 
First half we struggled to deal with their press, that should be a warning sign to Italiano that we are still struggling to break the press. Then there was the ref barely calling anything that would have been called last year - as I understand it this is a directive from the refs boss and league to allow the flow of the game to be better.

Some Positives, Armiento looked decent from the dead ball and Eze, albeit a little rusty (hasnt played since June) looked to have a good first touch and was very busy.

I really dislike the dumb negativity which is clearly still a hangover from last season, we've beaten Wrexham, Perth and Nunwading, we are still in the comp so take it and quit beating your biased drum.

I'm quite positive about how Greenacre set up the team against Wrexham thank you very much. I thought he did a great job of setting up a fast paced, well organized, counter attack against the technically superior pro side that was deep into pre season. It was very tidy stuff.

I'm not giving any credit to Chief at this stage because I have not seen anything to suggest that there has been a shift in the way he is approaching this season tactical yet. Yes I'm aware it's early days but I don't see anything that aligns with more attacking football.

It's my opinion that he is a pretty rubbish coach that got very lucky in his first season. The stats more or less back that up. I'm also allowed that opinion, I don't have to shill for anything the club does.

So anyway, you take that and stop beating your biased drum eh.

You're entitled to your opinion - of curse. But, ignoring any influence or input by Italiano during the Wrexham game is purposefully ignoring the fact that the fist team manager and the reserves manager will always be working together for the betterment of the players and team.

I'm getting a bit over all this "the coach is trying different tactics," "our players aren't fit enough yet," "they are battle hardened... etc."

Football is a simple game at the end of the day so there really shouldn't be too many tactics and variations to try. The coach has brought the players in he wanted/needed, and he observes them during practice every day. He should have a clear plan in mind on how to play from day one.

Also, our players are seasoned pros, they should always be very fit and certainly enough to take on the part timers.

Trying not to be too negative at this stage but what we showed there last night was utter garbage.

When we face Wanderers in the next round we'll have a better idea of where we stand. I'm not feeling too optimistic though based on what I've seen thus far.

Smeltz4PM

For all the semi-positive reviews on him, I am getting so sick of LKH at LB/LWB. 
He is so far from the answer especially if you're setting up with 3 at the back.

Yes he does a job, and got on the end of a loose ball against perth for a goal but otherwise offers so little going forward, while presumably not being reliable enough defensively to ever get a go at CB

Agreed, we looked better in the second half when we converted to a back four. When we played a back 3 in the first half, the middle of the pitch was pretty congested so we had to rely on our wingbacks to progress the ball which consisted of an unfit Payne and LKH who isn't exactly much of an attacking threat. We played better in the second half when we had an extra man in midfield. 

Since2007

Smeltz4PM

For all the semi-positive reviews on him, I am getting so sick of LKH at LB/LWB. 
He is so far from the answer especially if you're setting up with 3 at the back.

Yes he does a job, and got on the end of a loose ball against perth for a goal but otherwise offers so little going forward, while presumably not being reliable enough defensively to ever get a go at CB

Agreed, we looked better in the second half when we converted to a back four. When we played a back 3 in the first half, the middle of the pitch was pretty congested so we had to rely on our wingbacks to progress the ball which consisted of an unfit Payne and LKH who isn't exactly much of an attacking threat. We played better in the second half when we had an extra man in midfield. 

Yes, and the subs helped hugely. 

Our team is just quite low on quality I think. There is a lot of unjustified optimism about our youngsters. We have two players who we know would make it into a starting XI of most top 6 A-League sides in Rufer and Payne. Jury still out on Eze but nobody else in our entire squad is good enough and that isn't even debatable. 

Edit: maybe Armiento could too, I don't know, but harsh to judge him when I havent ever really watched him