In The Zone - The End

I agree, Kosta was the MOM. I have to tell him that via the Strathmore Fish and Chips Shop, I think they installed a little Kosta shrine after that excellent performance.

He provided the cross to Fallon for the second goal.

And won a pen.

Enjoyed the pod this week (and last week too actually) - agree Piney is a good addition.  

One thing on the analysis of both the home and away legs which I think you guys never discussed and that's the decision, in both legs, to only play two central midfielders.  I really found that strange and it really exacerbated our lack of a holding player - we don't have a natural holder so I think you need an extra player in there.  

In the away leg especially I think it would have been an obvious move to swap James for Brockie and have an extra body putting pressure on in midfield (if you assume Christie plays).  In the second leg, which was a lot of fun, we were still comically open in central midfield at times.  Again, I think a third player would have helped us to be a bit more balanced.  

Not a bad call that, especially in the first leg where the game plan was very defensive..you'd think an extra holding midfielder would've been essential to pull it off, especially against that Mexican side at altitude. 

I get a feeling in the 2nd leg, ricki had more or less given up but chucked some kids out there and told them just to play. Of course he did hope that we'd get a couple of early goals as a result, but think he knew it was beyond us. 

Funny the different opinions on Storm Roux, and mine is different to the guys on the pod too.

I reckon he was excellent getting up the line, brilliant bursting forward, however had zero end product.  He always wanted to cross, usually unsuccessfully.  It would have been nice if he looked for the short pass sometimes after making great runs.

Defensively was ok, could be better but could be worse.

Overall i think there is brilliant potential there, just needs some work on the final ball.

great pod guys. But Storm for me was MOM, yes there was a lot of traffic down his side, but i dont think they picked up as the weak link, i think they attacked down there because it was their strength.

#InTheZone V88 is out at yellowfever.co.nz/podcasts .

With Wellington Phoenix FC completing their 'everywhere but Wellington' tour winless, the pod chats through the last minute loss to Sydney FC and previews this weekend's fixture against a depleted Western Sydney Wanderers FC. Elsewhere the team discusses whether Gareth Morgan is correct in his opinion of the NZF board, while Exodus Team Wellingtonclaim their first win of the season.

The only thing I like about it is that it is 50.50 long

THat is one too many things.

great pod. great mid week nix hit

I think Smithy needs to stop scapegoating Huysegems

I think ppl should stop saying scapegoat

Another good pod, thank you for all your time and effort guys, i love these.

Smithy really thinks we are good, like way overrates us...

I also like that its number 88. Its a cool number. 

So there is 2 things I like about it. 

"...we dominated the midfield... which is not something we usually say of phoenix teams..."

surely unless waffles delivers soon hes got to go ride the pine for a bit

Not sure if this has been pointed out but 103 games is basically only 2 years of the league

1 season = 61 games (14 rounds x 4 games + 4 playoffs and a final) so really the 1st 0-0 draw in about a season and a half.

Yeah I tried to quickly correct myself.

Still first 0-0 in that long is surprisingly. I'm sure you wouldn't go 10 weeks in the EPL without a 0-0.

0-0 games are a particularly awful watch so I can't imagine it would have been one for the purists.

I know there's heaps of content about for the podcast at present, but significant news for club's long term player development is this:

Wellington Phoenix Football Academy

If you're looking for a really meaty discussion, interview Wynton Rufer, and Nate Winkel at Ole, as well as Jess Ibrom who is apparently going to be head coach at WPFA.

That whole discussion should be explored on the back of Gareth's rant about elite player development. Talk to the guys who are doing what NZF is not.

#InTheZone V89 is out at yellowfever.co.nz/podcasts.

The pod looks back at Wellington Phoenix FC's continued winless streak as they draw blank against Western Sydney Wanderers FC, and rate our chances this weekend against a depleted Perth Glory side. Elsewhere, Brian Turner hits back against the Dom Post, Oceania Football Confederation make a play for a different World Cup qualification path, and who should be in the ASB Premiership team of the decade.

Good pod this week, glad to see Smithy pushing Hard News off the fence!!

Here's my take on the misifiring attack - I tend to roughly agree with all 3 arguments, Huysegems isn't good enough, we're not attacking with enough players so we're out numbered and we need better players

http://aleftfootforstandingon.blogspot.co.uk/

Actually the one thing he does do well is hold the ball up. Other than that I have been expected more from him.

Like JD said - we don't attack in great numbers - so if he is holding it up and lets the ball go to another player more often than not his involvement ends there because he's not a fast mover off the ball and he tends to get ahold of it and drift wide before he passes it.

He's either not that good or he's not being used in a position that suits his best attributes - whatever those are?

I've been telling everyone Huysegems is rubbish for ages now, I'm glad others are finally starting to realise it too....

And the thing is, in terms of technical fotball ability, I think he is one of the best in the squad. 

I liken him to Brockie in that its hard to know what game plan works for him because Stein does have talent - of that there is no doubt but he is just the square peg to the Phoenix game plans round hole.