final home game for Aloisi??

final home game for Aloisi??

Injury-plagued  captain Ross Aloisi admits the Wellington Phoenix's final home match of the season, against Sydney FC tonight, could be his last at Westpac Stadium - with the 34-year-old's future beyond this season uncertain.

The combative midfielder has recovered from a recent back injury to be available for selection tonight and is likely to sit on the bench after a five-match stint in the stands.

The Phoenix have two away matches remaining which, barring a miraculous run to the playoffs, will also bring to an end Aloisi's one-season Phoenix contract.

A fully fit Aloisi would almost certainly be re-signed by the Phoenix, but that is far from guaranteed given the seriousness of his recent back injury, which he revealed included a cracked vertabrae, and his age.

"I'd love to be back here next season but at the end of the day I've got to look at the injury that I had this season - it was quite a serious one," he said yesterday.

"At the moment it feels good. I've done a lot of work on it, but I'll speak to the club at the end of the season and make a decision then.

"I love the city, I love the team. I was here from day one and the captain as well. It would be fantastic to play another year but you've got to look at my age as well, and the way my body is holding up.

"I know people who are limping from nerve injuries from their lower back and I don't want to have that after football, so I'll sit down with the surgeon and just see what he's got to say and then sit down with Ricki, Terry [Serepisos] and Tony [Pignata]."

He said the past two months had been a struggle.

"The hardest thing is waking up in the morning and limping.

"If I didn't have that back injury I probably would've signed on for another season earlier, but I like to take it one game at a time these days and I don't want to let anyone down."

Aloisi said if he were to retire, he would love to stay with the Phoenix in "some other area".

He has his Asian `C' coaching licence and is looking at studying for the `B' qualification. He said he had always been interested in the tactical side of football.

"I think it's in my blood. Being captain in Adelaide for two years and captain here, I've learnt a lot. It's a passion of mine, whether I want to coach at a higher level or coach kids."

Aloisi, whose return helps offset the suspensions of Daniel, Vince Lia and Tim Brown, said Sydney would provide his team with another formidable challenge tonight.

Under coach John Kosmina they have lost just one of their past nine matches and Kosmina is already eyeing the minor premiership. Sydney are currently third, three points behind leaders Queensland and Central Coast.

But the Phoenix are also in good form, having lost just one of their past six games. Aloisi was determined to give the home fans a fitting sendoff to season one.

"Our fans have probably been the best in the competition and I just hope we put in a good performance and get a result, which is also important for us if we want to have any chance of getting into the top four.

"We've always played well against Sydney and we relish the chances to play against them."

Hard News2008-01-04 15:05:18

shattered!

Lets give him rapturous applause regardless....he's been great for the Nix this season in helping to get us underway and support for the young fellas.

Ross, Vinny and Mickey Ferrante all love Wellington sooo much, they love us as the fans and love the club but also think its a great city......

Oh Rossy we love you!!!

Did he reinjure his back in that Galaxy game, or was he always a bit marginal for it?

Huge shame. When we played Sydney last time I thought Aloisi had a superb game. If he does get on the park tonight, last game or not,  I hope he gets a huge reception for his part in the success of our first season.

im sure his reception will be massive, on an aside did terry or tony ever take yf up on the offer of joining us in the zone for tonights game? maybe tim brown and vince lia could aswell.

absolutely agree, a huge reception is due to the man

We love you Rossy we do
Rossy we do
We love you Rossy we do
Oh Rossy we love you!!!

sing it loud

Aloisi's magic
but he hurt his magic back
but he still came out and played for us
against the blingy crap...

Aloisi's put 100% in for us, and some of his goals have been great (that little volley from about 6 yards out against Galaxy was magic!) he is getting on a little though, and I wouldn't want him playing unless he was 100% fit, for his sake and the clubs sake. Hopefully Tim Brown can step up if Aloisi goes next year.

There's only one Aloisi

all the wanganui supporters will be sad to see aloisi retire and are in total agreement that we should send him off in style with a huge ovation.it is a shame he got injured as he would of got better as the season went on.hope he does take up an off the field role at the club,he would be a huge asset for seasons to come

ive been a fan of aloisi since day 1, i think its a shame, if he can get his back sorted then im sure he can play for 1 more season at least, he is a true inspiration to the phoenix.

always been great to yf, doing interviews and taking time out to chat to everyone.  Make sure he knows he is greatly appreciated.

Sad to see, but expected. Ross has been excellent this season though. Can't think of a better choice for the captaincy but Ross. And in coming out of retirement for the Phoenix and Ricki, it proves he is a top-notch individual.

In what could be the last game of the season, we play the Mariners at Bluetongue. Could be his last game, playing John 'the wrong' Aloisi's boys!

Will be a bloody shame if he has to give it away this year.I think he is one of the reasons the Phoenix have been so successful particularly with his work off the field.He always seems willing to talk and some of our big headed so called super stars from other sports could learn a lesson from him in dealing with fans.
Its also a shame  that its taken his possible retirement for some people to acknowledge his contribution,as he has copped his share of bagging in the forums this season some of it was not warranted at all.

A nice early goal for Ross would suit me fine.

great guy. He has been texting one of the lads saying how much he loves Welly, the Fever, and Nix and wants to end his career here for sure (despite any rumours saying he would go to Oz next year). Also requested Stand Up for the Phoenix (in tune) when the team comes out

He was the perfect choice to help get this club up and playing. experience galore, popular with players, fans etc. That beaming smile after our first home win. memories galore in such a short time. Great goals. Always seems so genuine. If the club did keep him on in some capacitiy (Please not like that BNZ ambassador joke called Richard Hadlee) in coaching, our younger players would be richer for the experience.

Ross should coach our Youth League team if we beat out AIS for one IMHO. I don't seem him playing next season but I'd love to see him stay with the Phoenix in some capacity, it's been a shame he's been out of it so much this season.

'we've got the wrong aloisi.....'

Don't steal one of the chants from the Marinators

Nice win anyway 5-2

We should chant his name during the game.Inter rocks2008-01-04 16:02:07

Think he deserves a real big send off if it is his last game!

Aloisi, (the right Aloisi), has been an Ambassador with a capital A for our club.

Hope he enjoys his last home game if that is to be the case.

Hehe, nasty.

i didn't really see the tackle, but i felt sorry for Ross, he was gutted when he gave his after match speech

he got a genuinely good cheer from the fans as he came off

shame for it to finish at home that way, if his back doesn't come right - but the good memories of the man are tucked away for ever

and he may yet get the winner at the Mariners!!

Granted it wasn't a good tackle, but it really didn't deserve as red

saw the replay, i still think a yellow would have sufficed 

He ran quicker off the field than he did the whole time on it.

Interesting to read the Fred Woodcock article this morning. I didn't realise it was Talay, already on a yellow, who dodgily avoided another yellow for taking out Felipe just outside the box. It should have been Sydney who were down to 10 men, nice and early. And he was integral to their goals - damn.
Fink2008-01-05 12:41:13

Talay should have never been on the park at the time of Aloisi's tackle.

He got away with 4 tackles that took players out after his booking.

I can't believe that Ben Williams actually sent someone off... this is the same man that saw no problem with Tiatto rugby tackling Piorkowski, slamming him into the ground and ending his season.

What have you lads done to Williams?  Because he don't like you much.

I got Aloisi's shorts last night, nice and sweaty haha!

There's only one Aloiiiiiisi
One Aloiiiiiisi
Walking along
Singing a song
Walking in a Rossy wonderland!!

Thanks for everything Ross, I appreciate all you have done in helping to establish the MIGHTY PHOENIX!!

And don't get me wrong, I'm not into referee-bashing by any means.

got ross to sign my retro ricki after game he only had his underwear left on by then he had thrown all his playing strip into the crowd who was the lucky bugger who got his shirt.