WPM R23 vs Central Coast Mariners | Sat 6th Apr | 7:30pm | Sky Sport Select

I know of two of us going to Gosford on Saturday. Anyone else going?  Can someone recommend a pre-game hostelry? 

Unsure on Payne or Hughes and no Rufer this weekend. I imagine setting up for another defensive masterclass. But who will play where? Do we start Al taay, salas and Pennington, with Sheridan at RB? Or switch sutts over and have him at RB while LKH is at LB. Or play Salas/Al taay at RB and have Old start in the middle. Bring KLH in at LCB and play 5 at the back? 
Hmm choices.
Not that great that we have so many out, but good that we still have flexibility to solve the issues. 

RR

A season-defining match this Sat 6th vs CCM. Be there if you can. KO is 5:30pm with pre-match drinks from 3:30pm at leagues club across the road. 💛🖤🐦‍🔥💛🖤🐦‍🔥💛🖤🐦‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/wUmvNTq0z5

— The Little Corner of Yellow (@cornerofyellow) April 1, 2024

Recommended ticket/seat from the 'corner of yellow' that I should purchase?  

kwlap

Unsure on Payne or Hughes and no Rufer this weekend. I imagine setting up for another defensive masterclass. But who will play where? Do we start Al taay, salas and Pennington, with Sheridan at RB? Or switch sutts over and have him at RB while LKH is at LB. Or play Salas/Al taay at RB and have Old start in the middle. Bring KLH in at LCB and play 5 at the back? 
Hmm choices.
Not that great that we have so many out, but good that we still have flexibility to solve the issues. 

I'd very surprised if it wasn't 5 at the back.
Salas, Surman, Wootton, LK-H & Sutton.
Al-Taay & Pennington in midfield.  That's assuming Payne & Hughes are both still out

Old & OVH off the bench early, to run at hopefully a tired Mariners playing their 3rd game in a week. Also having those genuine threats off the bench, means more a chance Nix won't just be parked in their own box the last 20 mins, if CCM are desperately chasing a goal.

Typhoon

RR

A season-defining match this Sat 6th vs CCM. Be there if you can. KO is 5:30pm with pre-match drinks from 3:30pm at leagues club across the road. 💛🖤🐦‍🔥💛🖤🐦‍🔥💛🖤🐦‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/wUmvNTq0z5

— The Little Corner of Yellow (@cornerofyellow) April 1, 2024

Recommended ticket/seat from the 'corner of yellow' that I should purchase?  

They will be in the Active Away Team Bay.

I'm not to fussed about Rufer's red.
Al-Taay, Pennington, Salas is a good midfield. Sutton, Surman, Wootton, LKH is a good defensive block. Old and Kosta can always create havoc on a counter. Ball will kill himself and will be everywhere to grind out a result.

A bit thin on the bench (especially defenders) against a talented CCM team with some depth.

coochiee

kwlap

Unsure on Payne or Hughes and no Rufer this weekend. I imagine setting up for another defensive masterclass. But who will play where? Do we start Al taay, salas and Pennington, with Sheridan at RB? Or switch sutts over and have him at RB while LKH is at LB. Or play Salas/Al taay at RB and have Old start in the middle. Bring KLH in at LCB and play 5 at the back? 
Hmm choices.
Not that great that we have so many out, but good that we still have flexibility to solve the issues. 

I'd very surprised if it wasn't 5 at the back.
Salas, Surman, Wootton, LK-H & Sutton.
Al-Taay & Pennington in midfield.  That's assuming Payne & Hughes are both still out

Old & OVH off the bench early, to run at hopefully a tired Mariners playing their 3rd game in a week. Also having those genuine threats off the bench, means more a chance Nix won't just be parked in their own box the last 20 mins, if CCM are desperately chasing a goal.

I'd say Old has to start. Front 3 of Kraev, Kosta, Old will be deadly for counters and will need it for the whole game to try get some goals. Ball to come on later to grind it out.

If CCM qualify for ACL final, and don’t finish top 2, the elimination final would have to be postponed and it would mess up the scheduling.
Perhaps the mariners may get some unnoticed “rub of the green” in their last matches of the season…

Think alot of how this season goes for positions 1 and 2 in the league comes down to how the CCM v Melb C goes. If it is a full on battle then CCM lose then we have a good chance to go 9 points ahead. If Melb C fold and it's an easy game for CCM then they'll still be tired. The opportunity is there for us to grab the league and make the rest chase us. Worst case scenario is CCM winning both games and taking top spot with wins. But I dont see that happening.

Would any of the pubs in Wellington be showing the game? Bit tired of watching the away games on the couch. 

This one for the championship of the universe

The_Bout_to_Knock_the_Other_Guy_Out.png 288.07 KB

wilbaker

coochiee

kwlap

Unsure on Payne or Hughes and no Rufer this weekend. I imagine setting up for another defensive masterclass. But who will play where? Do we start Al taay, salas and Pennington, with Sheridan at RB? Or switch sutts over and have him at RB while LKH is at LB. Or play Salas/Al taay at RB and have Old start in the middle. Bring KLH in at LCB and play 5 at the back? 
Hmm choices.
Not that great that we have so many out, but good that we still have flexibility to solve the issues. 

I'd very surprised if it wasn't 5 at the back.
Salas, Surman, Wootton, LK-H & Sutton.
Al-Taay & Pennington in midfield.  That's assuming Payne & Hughes are both still out

Old & OVH off the bench early, to run at hopefully a tired Mariners playing their 3rd game in a week. Also having those genuine threats off the bench, means more a chance Nix won't just be parked in their own box the last 20 mins, if CCM are desperately chasing a goal.

I'd say Old has to start. Front 3 of Kraev, Kosta, Old will be deadly for counters and will need it for the whole game to try get some goals. Ball to come on later to grind it out.

I agree that Old will start but I do think the guy is amazing when he comes off the bench. I think that he has effected the results of matches more from the bench than from starts??

kungfu panda

wilbaker

coochiee

kwlap

Unsure on Payne or Hughes and no Rufer this weekend. I imagine setting up for another defensive masterclass. But who will play where? Do we start Al taay, salas and Pennington, with Sheridan at RB? Or switch sutts over and have him at RB while LKH is at LB. Or play Salas/Al taay at RB and have Old start in the middle. Bring KLH in at LCB and play 5 at the back? 
Hmm choices.
Not that great that we have so many out, but good that we still have flexibility to solve the issues. 

I'd very surprised if it wasn't 5 at the back.
Salas, Surman, Wootton, LK-H & Sutton.
Al-Taay & Pennington in midfield.  That's assuming Payne & Hughes are both still out

Old & OVH off the bench early, to run at hopefully a tired Mariners playing their 3rd game in a week. Also having those genuine threats off the bench, means more a chance Nix won't just be parked in their own box the last 20 mins, if CCM are desperately chasing a goal.

I'd say Old has to start. Front 3 of Kraev, Kosta, Old will be deadly for counters and will need it for the whole game to try get some goals. Ball to come on later to grind it out.

I agree that Old will start but I do think the guy is amazing when he comes off the bench. I think that he has effected the results of matches more from the bench than from starts??

When Old was subbed on it almost instantly took the heat out of Roar's attacking press. He helped make quite a few good chances which meant they were forced to lie a little deeper to cope with our extra movement. That and the change to a back five made a big difference to the stability at the back in the last half hour.

That said, if he's fit, and I assume he will be, I would much rather see Old on for the full 90. He's shown this season that he's got a good engine and that he can make an impact right to the end.

If we win this game we go 9 points clear at the top, with three games to go.

Assuming that is the case - wih our next game at home. If we were to win, get a point and with the league, is it likely the trophy will be presented then or do we have to wait til the final game of the season.

Just thinking ahead around potential travel plans.

Outpost

kungfu panda

wilbaker

coochiee

kwlap

Unsure on Payne or Hughes and no Rufer this weekend. I imagine setting up for another defensive masterclass. But who will play where? Do we start Al taay, salas and Pennington, with Sheridan at RB? Or switch sutts over and have him at RB while LKH is at LB. Or play Salas/Al taay at RB and have Old start in the middle. Bring KLH in at LCB and play 5 at the back? 
Hmm choices.
Not that great that we have so many out, but good that we still have flexibility to solve the issues. 

I'd very surprised if it wasn't 5 at the back.
Salas, Surman, Wootton, LK-H & Sutton.
Al-Taay & Pennington in midfield.  That's assuming Payne & Hughes are both still out

Old & OVH off the bench early, to run at hopefully a tired Mariners playing their 3rd game in a week. Also having those genuine threats off the bench, means more a chance Nix won't just be parked in their own box the last 20 mins, if CCM are desperately chasing a goal.

I'd say Old has to start. Front 3 of Kraev, Kosta, Old will be deadly for counters and will need it for the whole game to try get some goals. Ball to come on later to grind it out.

I agree that Old will start but I do think the guy is amazing when he comes off the bench. I think that he has effected the results of matches more from the bench than from starts??

When Old was subbed on it almost instantly took the heat out of Roar's attacking press. He helped make quite a few good chances which meant they were forced to lie a little deeper to cope with our extra movement. That and the change to a back five made a big difference to the stability at the back in the last half hour.

That said, if he's fit, and I assume he will be, I would much rather see Old on for the full 90. He's shown this season that he's got a good engine and that he can make an impact right to the end.

To be a devil's advocate, Old would end up bogged down supporting defence in the inevitable first half press of CCM if he starts, while if we have both LKH and Sam Sutton fit and available this may not be necessarily the right call. But Italiano will have a better idea than me on this :-)

MetalLegNZ

If we win this game we go 9 points clear at the top, with three games to go.

Assuming that is the case - wih our next game at home. If we were to win, get a point and with the league, is it likely the trophy will be presented then or do we have to wait til the final game of the season.

Just thinking ahead around potential travel plans.

Come to both of the last 2 games!!
That’s what I’m doing hahah..

This game is huge, cannot wait!

MetalLegNZ

If we win this game we go 9 points clear at the top, with three games to go.

Assuming that is the case - wih our next game at home. If we were to win, get a point and with the league, is it likely the trophy will be presented then or do we have to wait til the final game of the season.

Just thinking ahead around potential travel plans.

CCM/City tonight. So could be only a 3 point gap going into this match. 

Boxtoboxall

Would any of the pubs in Wellington be showing the game? Bit tired of watching the away games on the couch. 

I’d imagine the old Bailey would, potentially d4 and four kings? Should give you plenty of coverage.

We can only hope Faghani is not the ref this weekend, there were lots of meaty challenges in the mariners game tonight.

Okay I take back my excitement, I'm scared.

A draw is still fine with the 3 point gap but with CCM last 3 games compared to ours. A 6 point gap could be needed.

I might be tempted to start OVH to run and run, and leave Old to a bench role. Hmm, Salas and Sheridan, and midfield. Torres….

I think we have the cavalry or the cattle if you prefer, but how and where might be the trick. Last game we unleashed Sutton (and Pennington win the ball high up) and that was a bit unexpected. 

I don’t think we can just hold CC off for a 0-0 though we’ve done it before. We have to show some endeavour to peg them back. 

theprof

Think alot of how this season goes for positions 1 and 2 in the league comes down to how the CCM v Melb C goes. If it is a full on battle then CCM lose then we have a good chance to go 9 points ahead. If Melb C fold and it's an easy game for CCM then they'll still be tired. The opportunity is there for us to grab the league and make the rest chase us. Worst case scenario is CCM winning both games and taking top spot with wins. But I dont see that happening.

Hasn't aged well thus far

Can see this game going very similar to the last. No point us putting crosses into there box, with Kaltak there, he cleared everything last night that City lofted in and what he didn't clear was easy catching practice for Vukovic. And they defend very narrow so are hard to break down through the middle. Best chance to score against them is on the counter when they have fewer defensive numbers. This is how they like to play also. Moving the ball forward quickly in transition when there is space.
So these two teams kind of cancel each other out to a degree.
They could well tire as game goes on though. So I think we will need some pace off the bench. That's why I wouldn't be surprised if we see Old and OVH as impact subs. With Ball starting. similar to the last game.

InsulinMachine

theprof

Think alot of how this season goes for positions 1 and 2 in the league comes down to how the CCM v Melb C goes. If it is a full on battle then CCM lose then we have a good chance to go 9 points ahead. If Melb C fold and it's an easy game for CCM then they'll still be tired. The opportunity is there for us to grab the league and make the rest chase us. Worst case scenario is CCM winning both games and taking top spot with wins. But I dont see that happening.

Hasn't aged well thus far

To be fair CCM looked pretty jaded during that match, City were all over them in the first half, unlucky to not score at least two. Second half was much the same, City's goal came from a Kaltak error, then CCM get a lucky pen and score from their one real decent piece of play. I still dont see CCM winning both games, we are better that City, both defensively and on attack.

theprof

InsulinMachine

theprof

Think alot of how this season goes for positions 1 and 2 in the league comes down to how the CCM v Melb C goes. If it is a full on battle then CCM lose then we have a good chance to go 9 points ahead. If Melb C fold and it's an easy game for CCM then they'll still be tired. The opportunity is there for us to grab the league and make the rest chase us. Worst case scenario is CCM winning both games and taking top spot with wins. But I dont see that happening.

Hasn't aged well thus far

To be fair CCM looked pretty jaded during that match, City were all over them in the first half, unlucky to not score at least two. Second half was much the same, City's goal came from a Kaltak error, then CCM get a lucky pen and score from their one real decent piece of play. I still dont see CCM winning both games, we are better that City, both defensively and on attack.

At full capacity, yes, but not sure with Rufer out. It’s a big miss.

WanderingSheep

theprof

InsulinMachine

theprof

Think alot of how this season goes for positions 1 and 2 in the league comes down to how the CCM v Melb C goes. If it is a full on battle then CCM lose then we have a good chance to go 9 points ahead. If Melb C fold and it's an easy game for CCM then they'll still be tired. The opportunity is there for us to grab the league and make the rest chase us. Worst case scenario is CCM winning both games and taking top spot with wins. But I dont see that happening.

Hasn't aged well thus far

To be fair CCM looked pretty jaded during that match, City were all over them in the first half, unlucky to not score at least two. Second half was much the same, City's goal came from a Kaltak error, then CCM get a lucky pen and score from their one real decent piece of play. I still dont see CCM winning both games, we are better that City, both defensively and on attack.

At full capacity, yes, but not sure with Rufer out. It’s a big miss.

Rufer is a big loss - totally agree, but I think Al-taay or Pennington can do a job in his place. If Payne is back even Salas could do the CDM role well enough. 

for CCM game, we just need to score a goal, if we score, we should be fine to get something (1 or 3 points) out of the game.  In our defence we trust.

What rufer has that the other midfield options don’t, is a long pass. Him and Wootton are the only players who have it and we often use them coming from different sides of the pitch to vary the angle of our attacks. Not sure who or how we replace that ability. 

kwlap

What rufer has that the other midfield options don’t, is a long pass. Him and Wootton are the only players who have it and we often use them coming from different sides of the pitch to vary the angle of our attacks. Not sure who or how we replace that ability. 

The one thing that this squad has proven this season is that we have important players but no essential players. We need a point from this match. But we'll get 3 points.

kwlap

What rufer has that the other midfield options don’t, is a long pass. Him and Wootton are the only players who have it and we often use them coming from different sides of the pitch to vary the angle of our attacks. Not sure who or how we replace that ability. 

 Pennington switches aren't bad tbf not as good as Rufers tho.

Outpost

kungfu panda

wilbaker

coochiee

kwlap

Unsure on Payne or Hughes and no Rufer this weekend. I imagine setting up for another defensive masterclass. But who will play where? Do we start Al taay, salas and Pennington, with Sheridan at RB? Or switch sutts over and have him at RB while LKH is at LB. Or play Salas/Al taay at RB and have Old start in the middle. Bring KLH in at LCB and play 5 at the back? 
Hmm choices.
Not that great that we have so many out, but good that we still have flexibility to solve the issues. 

I'd very surprised if it wasn't 5 at the back.
Salas, Surman, Wootton, LK-H & Sutton.
Al-Taay & Pennington in midfield.  That's assuming Payne & Hughes are both still out

Old & OVH off the bench early, to run at hopefully a tired Mariners playing their 3rd game in a week. Also having those genuine threats off the bench, means more a chance Nix won't just be parked in their own box the last 20 mins, if CCM are desperately chasing a goal.

I'd say Old has to start. Front 3 of Kraev, Kosta, Old will be deadly for counters and will need it for the whole game to try get some goals. Ball to come on later to grind it out.

I agree that Old will start but I do think the guy is amazing when he comes off the bench. I think that he has effected the results of matches more from the bench than from starts??

When Old was subbed on it almost instantly took the heat out of Roar's attacking press. He helped make quite a few good chances which meant they were forced to lie a little deeper to cope with our extra movement. That and the change to a back five made a big difference to the stability at the back in the last half hour.

That said, if he's fit, and I assume he will be, I would much rather see Old on for the full 90. He's shown this season that he's got a good engine and that he can make an impact right to the end.

Correct. Old changes the dynamic of their tactic. You need two man to contain his dribbling and speed. Very unique player for us.

We're going to beat CCM 2-1. Goals to Kraev and Kosta. We're going to win the league. 

2024 is the year of the Phoenix. 

I live in Upper Hutt and was working at home yesterday (Wednesday). So sneaked down to watch training for half an hour at lunchtime.

Encouraged to see Tim Payne appearing to take a full part four days out from the game.

Walsall Boy

I live in Upper Hutt and was working at home yesterday (Wednesday). So sneaked down to watch training for half an hour at lunchtime.

Encouraged to see Tim Payne appearing to take a full part four days out from the game.

I suspect we will not hear more about it until the last minute when the squads are announced.  

Walsall Boy

I live in Upper Hutt and was working at home yesterday (Wednesday). So sneaked down to watch training for half an hour at lunchtime.

Encouraged to see Tim Payne appearing to take a full part four days out from the game.

If Payne is back I'd like to see us line up like this.
first is on defence and then attack