Coaching Angst (it's one result away)

I can only think of two options that are and we already have one of them, and the other was here last season.

Maybe we should look further afield?

Yeah I suppose you have to think who do we replace him with? (if you were thinking about giving him the push). RH is doing an OK job, I'd give him 6/10.

If you are a successful League One coach, you are hoping to do enough to get picked up by a Championship or Premier League team, why would you come here ?

Unless you are Richard Money, Steve McMahon, Paul Nevin or Terry Butcher... all resounding successes.
Hard News2009-01-13 16:11:18

what happened to paul ince? he will do - whoever he is i hope he dosnt play this boring un creative circus we have produced in the last 2 years - time to move on

Last year we were very creative at times.

But on a positive note... I did get a great night sleep on Sunday - I'd nodded off after less than an hour...

Who said these Sunday evening/night games were crap???

creative in defence? wtf?

Must be thinking of Karl Dodds stepovers from the jets game? Creative defence!

pissed off that I missed those

I think some people are being too hard on the coach...Ok our attack is fairly blunt but think of the attacking players that were recruited or tried to recruit at the seasons start.

Quality Post there Zini

I'll follow that up in that we have failed to create chances that appear simple like other teams. The Sydney goal that was scored, was a simple wall pass.... I mean a 1 - 2. Why can't we do that?
It always seems like the goals we have scored have been... I'm not sure how to describe them but a chip from 25 out on the angle by Smeltz, or a groin in from Leo or a fumble on the line or a wonder strike by Smeltz from 25 on the angle. An element of luck or an element of 'holy sh*t'. Felipes goal last year with that 30 yard boomer in the barn comes to mind

I would also say our season has suffered from that and a lack of a second strike power. I draw alot of similarities from basketball because there are some parallels between the haves and the have nots. Teams simply double marked Smeltz because the other players on the park for the Phoenix, were never going to make you pay. If we were a basketball team, it would be like the Lakers Kareem without Magic, the Celtics Larry without Kevin McCale or the Bulls Michael without Pippen. Those teams won championships (plural) because they could hurt you many ways. With a lack of a second option, you can afford to double the main man and force the ball elsewhere because the other players don't have that 'X' factor to really make you pay. An immediate A-League team that comes to mind is Danny Allsopp and Archie Thompson (and the other options that they have)

Some people dismiss Smeltz as being not good enough to play anywhere else and fair enough based on what he did in England. But he has been consistently good for 2 seasons now. That alone shows its not just some purple patch but a man that has ability and hence why he is is a hot property. We are really going to feel the effects of him leaving if we do not recruit well and I would say the fortunes of the Phoenix next year fall squarely on how well we recruit.
Poorly and we have no right to have expectations. Very well and we should challenge for the 2-4 position.
Agent 472009-01-13 21:12:47

To all of the above, yes, I agree. I would also add that I believe Ricki can produce an attractive brand of football, given the right combination of players. At times during both seasons I've found myself exclaiming in surprise "sh*t, we're playing well today!". Close passing, attacking runs, dribbling, one-twos, shots from distance - all the stuff which makes a team hard to play against and also great to watch.

I think we really lack a midfielder who can run the show and without that we're down to getting the ball forward quickly and hoping our attcking players can do something.  Our midfielders are really defenders who feed the forwards, without creativity in the middle of the park (which Felipe brought at times last year) we aren't going to be an attractive team.  I don't see anyone in the squad who can do that job so we're playing the one style of play that suits the presonnel that we have. james dean2009-01-14 01:20:40

Exactly! if you've been successful in league one in Europe why on earth would you want to come to the a-league - surely that would be considered a backward step, plus a drop in $$$$$

Man, I can't believe how many sensible comments were posted on this thread in just one page!!!



Well done Zinidane, Agent 47, Stop Out, Jag and JD.el grapadura2009-01-14 10:52:17

My apologies. Didn't check the last page before posting my comment.
Edited accordingly.

I was joking, honest! I was only agreeing with the others.

LOL, you guys are funny.

Having recently returned, I can confirm your suspicions

Jag2009-01-14 11:47:20

Sometimes you have to face reality and do what you can with the players in the squad. last year under Ricki we quite often played an attractive brand of football and scored a lot of goals. Trouble was the personel we had in defense were not up to it....this year we recruited some good defenders and as a result we are a lot harder to break down and are in playoffs contention.

this year most of the attacking players are not up to the standard required...end result lowest number of goals scored in the comp. Look at the Jets...champions last year...last this year. Same coach...whats the difference.? Its the players. Coaches can't work miracles..they can only prepare who they have to the best of their ability.

I agree with this. These are the type of posts i like to read. Whether you agree or disagree they are well thought out.
I tend to agree.

And Spurs are still equal bottom...

Just proving that changing the coach doesn't always fix the problems.

Now 'f**kING GET IN THERE YOU PHOENIX!!!'