Every other thread has degraded into the same old off season arguments,NOT THIS ONE.
This is a football forum,I want to read and chat about football.
This is purely what this thread is for,nothing else.
Bring on the new season!
Are the gold coast the favorites this season? Where do we stack up against the others? Tegal2011-09-05 10:50:26
This is a football forum,I want to read and chat about football.
This is purely what this thread is for,nothing else.
Bring on the new season!
Are the gold coast the favorites this season? Where do we stack up against the others? Tegal2011-09-05 10:50:26
Allegedly
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Think we will grind out results but finish outside of top six.
My picks for the season, Adelaide to win and Heart to finish last and Perth to do not much due to poor coaching.
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SACK TEGAL!!!
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
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Yeah I think playoffs this season would be a big achievement. But it should still be the goal.
Could be a big season from ifill,he seems a lot fitter than last year and will be determined after the way things finished last season. He'll be the key.
Could be a big season from ifill,he seems a lot fitter than last year and will be determined after the way things finished last season. He'll be the key.
Allegedly
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We've still got a couple of holes to fill is my concern. A 10-15 goal striker could be the little extra needed to sneak the top 6 I reckon. Otherwise we'll be short on goal difference.
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Think he will be a key..... biggest concern is depth. Comfortable with enough players we have for a match day sqaud, however when inevitable injuries / suspensions arrive ........
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Ifill is def looking the goods, I'm hoping Pantelis can light things up for us too.
I'm a little nervous about defence and our cover at CB, Sigmund's an Animal and Dura gets cards for telling the ref he's doing a good job so assuming they don't get injured, suspensions are likely.
Isn't Smeltz at Perth? I think they'll do well this season, although it would be nice to break our away hoodo we've got going on there.
I'm a little nervous about defence and our cover at CB, Sigmund's an Animal and Dura gets cards for telling the ref he's doing a good job so assuming they don't get injured, suspensions are likely.
Isn't Smeltz at Perth? I think they'll do well this season, although it would be nice to break our away hoodo we've got going on there.
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Striker and Centre-Back concern me. If Siggie or Dura go down. Yikes!
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Striker and Centre-Back concern me.� If Siggie or Dura go down.� Yikes!
Jinx.
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Yep lack of cover in central defence a concern but can always throw Manny in there(seems to play every position) or use Lia as cover as a last resort.
Time for Pav to step up. Ifill has palyed as striker before? If so put him in there and use Pantelis out wide.
Have a feeling we will see the best from leo this season.
Discalimer: just my thoughts, don't shoot me
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Pavlova makingba step up would certainly be a bonus that will help.
Ifill up front could end up happening I think,its worth a try if we don't manage to sign anyone decent up there.
Leo going back to his best would be like signing a new player,here's hoping you're right on that one!
Ifill up front could end up happening I think,its worth a try if we don't manage to sign anyone decent up there.
Leo going back to his best would be like signing a new player,here's hoping you're right on that one!
Allegedly
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Have a feeling we will see the best from leo this season.
Discalimer: just my thoughts, don't shoot me
I would very much like to believe this also...however im not holding my breath
" If you only have a hammer you tend to see every problem as a nail" - maslow
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The teams that don't look like winning at the start of the season generally win, so I'm just going to leave it at that. Keep the faith, Might as well start singing that warriors tune.
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There's no point having the team winning now. They need to hit their straps around November time and carry the form through until April!
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
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Isn't Smeltz at Perth? I think they'll do well this season, although it would be nice to break our away hoodo we've got going on there.
We beat them last time we were over there...
As for our season, I think there's still enough good players at this level in the team to make us reasonably competitive, and maybe even sneak into the playoffs if we can hold on to our home record and get a bit of luck along the way (no big injuries, few suspensions, etc, because the lack of depth is concerning).
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best thread! i hate to say it but i think victory will win it this year. best strike force ever in the league. kewell, hernandez, solorzano, rojas. there defense may be a bit shaky but with class like that in your front third who gives a sh*t bout leaking a couple. im picking mariners will do average this year dont ask me why i just am. hopefully nix can creap into that top 6 over mariners, heart, jets and gold coast. i think its very doable just gota play far better on road i think thats key. keeping the faith. comon phoenix!
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Agree, nice thread. I can see Bertos coming back into some form this season after a long layoff. Still concerns for me are a goal scoring striker and another decent central defender. Think Pav will step up this year. Remember him doing OK, including winning a penalty, in our last regular season game last year. Still a raw talent though and needs some refining, and game time.
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i think pav is a fantastic asset for the club and im hoping hel have a stellar year
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1. MV - sadly, as their fans tend to be d***heads. But they've got a bloody good squad, Kewell and Rojas will tear up the league, and they are not lumbered with past it Muscat being on the pitch any more.
2. Adelaide - good squad and good coach
3. Sydney - Emerton
4. Melbourne Heart - Fred and some good other signings
5. Brisbane - they will miss McKay, Solozano and Kosta, but with Ange they won't suck too badly.
6. Mariners - solid but unspectacular.
7. Perth - Smeltz will do alright but Perth have under-delivered since the NSL and the coach seems clueless.
8. Gold Coast - Rigters won't be able to carry a team on his own.
9. Newcastle - over rated coach with over rated son.
10. Us - the rest have moved on while we haven't.
2. Adelaide - good squad and good coach
3. Sydney - Emerton
4. Melbourne Heart - Fred and some good other signings
5. Brisbane - they will miss McKay, Solozano and Kosta, but with Ange they won't suck too badly.
6. Mariners - solid but unspectacular.
7. Perth - Smeltz will do alright but Perth have under-delivered since the NSL and the coach seems clueless.
8. Gold Coast - Rigters won't be able to carry a team on his own.
9. Newcastle - over rated coach with over rated son.
10. Us - the rest have moved on while we haven't.
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Big call putting us as wooden spooners I think. The bottom half of the table are all pretty similar, so while its possible, the optimist in me says we'll be battling for that 6th place spot.
It seems apparent that our hopes and expectations aren't as high this season as they were last season. Lets hope the team surprises us, less pressure and expectation could be a good thing for them?
Allegedly
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Our home ground advantage counts for nothing SC03?
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
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Emerton won't save Sydney. He's not that great, and is one sulk from being Sterjovski.
Fred ain't what he used to be.
We're short but the others (apart from Adelaide) have not made the giant steps some would have us believe.
Harry a better thaqn 50% chance to spend the season in Physio. The backup is better than him but if the backup gets fed up at bench life behind Harry he could be gone (as we well know).
Fred ain't what he used to be.
We're short but the others (apart from Adelaide) have not made the giant steps some would have us believe.
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1. MV - sadly, as their fans tend to be d***heads. But they've got a bloody good squad, Kewell and Rojas will tear up the league, and they are not lumbered with past it Muscat being on the pitch any more.
2. Adelaide - good squad and good coach
3. Sydney - Emerton
4. Melbourne Heart - Fred and some good other signings
5. Brisbane - they will miss McKay, Solozano and Kosta, but with Ange they won't suck too badly.
6. Mariners - solid but unspectacular.
7. Perth - Smeltz will do alright but Perth have under-delivered since the NSL and the coach seems clueless.
8. Gold Coast - Rigters won't be able to carry a team on his own.
9. Newcastle - over rated coach with over rated son.
10. Us - the rest have moved on while we haven't.
Agree MV have the best attack, not so sure about defence. Will be interesting to see how it goes keeping all the attacking players happy.Can't see 2 many been happy sitting on the bench or playing NYL.
2. Adelaide - good squad and good coach
3. Sydney - Emerton
4. Melbourne Heart - Fred and some good other signings
5. Brisbane - they will miss McKay, Solozano and Kosta, but with Ange they won't suck too badly.
6. Mariners - solid but unspectacular.
7. Perth - Smeltz will do alright but Perth have under-delivered since the NSL and the coach seems clueless.
8. Gold Coast - Rigters won't be able to carry a team on his own.
9. Newcastle - over rated coach with over rated son.
10. Us - the rest have moved on while we haven't.
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Just met a Victory supporter on the weekend. First thing he mentions when he finds out I'm a Nix member, is Rojas. He was nice about it, but it still hurt bad.
Agreed that striker and CM cover are our main concerns. Crossing fingers that Pav, and Bran (are we signing him?) can step up, as they'll both be needed at some point. Optimistic that Pantellis will be a good signing for us.
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i think pav is a fantastic asset for the club and im hoping hel have a stellar year
I hope he does to...but sadly isnt showing anything like that at the moment
" If you only have a hammer you tend to see every problem as a nail" - maslow
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442? 433? 451? 343?
that is the question?
that is the question?
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my worry is our away form, especially only 4 of our last 11 games are at home
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442? 433? 451? 343?
that is the question?
that is the question?
4-5-1, Many and Brown/Lia releasing Ifil, Greenie, Pantellis, Bertos to go cause trouble.
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my worry is our away form, especially only 4 of our last 11 games are at home
Yep, a big concern but we have to turn it around one day, so maybe this could be the season.I think we are too defensive away from home and have looked better when we try to attack. Apart from a few teams i don't think home advantage counts for much in this league. More of a mindset from the team and coaching staff.
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my worry is our away form, especially only 4 of our last 11 games are at home
That just means we will be in first place with 11 games to go 
Or is that wishful thinking?
Allegedly
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tbh in those 11 if we manage to get 4 home wins then snatch a win and a couple of draws away i'll be very happy...actually i think that's more than enough for us to get into the top 6...
We only have 10 teams this year, so in theory it should be a bit easier to get into the play-off than last year hahaha...
believe...
Safire2011-09-05 17:29:36
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Yeah, 6 playoff spots for a 10 team league is a bit of a joke.
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I think Iffy up top will have to be he way we start until we sign super striker. He is obviously best out wide, but a front three of him pantelis and bertos won't be the end of the world. I can see them all swapping around any all are slightly different players. Just won't have a huge goal return.
Im quite worried about defense, and how we are going to fix it before we kick off against Rigters and DMac
Im quite worried about defense, and how we are going to fix it before we kick off against Rigters and DMac
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my worry is our away form,� especially only 4 of our last 11 games�are at home
so we need to be at least 8 games ahead going into the last 11 then?
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I think Iffy up top will have to be he way we start until we sign super striker. He is obviously best out wide, but a front three of him pantelis and bertos won't be the end of the world. I can see them all swapping around any all are slightly different players. Just won't have a huge goal return.
Im quite worried about defense, and how we are going to fix it before we kick off against Rigters and DMac
Im quite worried about defense, and how we are going to fix it before we kick off against Rigters and DMac
I'm not so sure Ifill is best out wide. In fact I almost think it's a pity he doesn't rate himself in a striker role because, apart from Smeltz, he has been consistently our most goal hungry player, and given the right combination up front could bag quite a few. Defences visibly panic whenever he runs at them anywhere near the penalty area.
Problem with him, last season especially, was a lot of misplaced effort out wide, often aimless and trying to perform defensive duties which werent really his brief.
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I think Iffy up top will have to be he way we start until we sign super striker. He is obviously best out wide, but a front three of him pantelis and bertos won't be the end of the world. I can see them all swapping around any all are slightly different players. Just won't have a huge goal return.
Im quite worried about defense, and how we are going to fix it before we kick off against Rigters and DMac
Im quite worried about defense, and how we are going to fix it before we kick off against Rigters and DMac
I'm not so sure Ifill is best out wide. In fact I almost think it's a pity he doesn't rate himself in a striker role because, apart from Smeltz, he has been consistently our most goal hungry player, and given the right combination up front could bag quite a few. Defences visibly panic whenever he runs at them anywhere near the penalty area.
Problem with him, last season especially, was a lot of misplaced effort out wide, often aimless and trying to perform defensive duties which werent really his brief.
Agree about Iffy, I'd love to see him in closer
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My fond hope is all these off-field shenanigans will pump the team up, bring them closer together and make them grimly determined to prove everyone wrong. Never underestimate the psychological factor.
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
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I'm not so sure Ifill is best out wide. In fact I almost think it's a pity he doesn't rate himself in a striker role because, apart from Smeltz, he has been consistently our most goal hungry player, and given the right combination up front could bag quite a few. Defences visibly panic whenever he runs at them anywhere near the penalty area.
Problem with him, last season especially, was a lot of misplaced effort out wide, often aimless and trying to perform defensive duties which werent really his brief.
Completely agree. Even when he is out wider he is at his best when he is hitting the edge of the box, which he can do just as well up front. He has calm and creates taht fraction of space he needs to get a shot away really well. That's his biggest strength IMO. Don't want to see him up there as a lone target man though.
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