League table

Brisbane 0 Newcastle 2

That is a fine looking table. 4 pts between us and 6th place and a game in hand over 7th-9th.

Might come back and admire it some more later in the day.

as  you say Mr 82, it's looking 'reasonable'* for a top 6 spot

Newcastle are the big threat to the Phoenix finishing fourth, and they have the following games left...

Yeah, the best any team outside the top six could possibly do now is 38 points (and that would be a miracle). So we need 8 points from the next 15 to be sure of the playoffs, probably less. The target from here has got to be at least fourth place, possibly third.

"We're heading for the top, and aiming for the play-offs..."

I think we should be aiming for 4th. Bring the Jets over here and wallop them, then who knows where we could end up. A home playoff match would be so key because it is such a large benefit to us. Newcastle do have a seemingly easier run in but if we can win our home games and pick up a few points in aussie then we can take them.

And Perth is shaping up as a big 6 pointer!

I noticed that all sides, bar Sydney and Adelaide, have taken a hammering, ie have been beaten by 3 + goals.

Round 2 Gold Coast 5 � 0 North Queensland
Round 6 Brisbane 3 � 0 New Castle
Round 7 Central Coast 3 � 0 Gold Coast
Round 10 Sydney 3 � 0 Melboune
Round 10 Wellington 3 � 0 New Castle
Round 11 Central Coast 3 � 0 Brisbane
Round 12 Wellington 6 � 0 Gold Coast
Round 14 Central Coast 4 � 0 Melbourne
Round 15 Central Coast 5 � 1 North Queensland
Round 16 Melbourne 4 � 0 Gold Coast
Round 16 Brisbane 4 � 1 Wellington
Round 17 Sydney 4 � 1 North Queensland
Round 18 Melbourne 3 � 0 Central Coast
Round 21 Gold Coast 5 � 1 Brisbane
Round 21 Perth 4 � 0 New Castle
Round 23 Melbourne 6 � 2 Perth

and that 3/5 of our losses have been at Sydney's hands.

Sorry probably pointless observations and would depend on your definition of a hammering.Oceanic62010-01-17 13:19:00

The annoying thing about those pastings is the Jets have received more than their fair share and they are still above us.

GCU and Tards I can understand.

I'm actually kinda glad we won't play New Castle again. Suddenly feel like it's us against them in our remaining matches for 4th spot.

Newcastle - 3rd worst defence and only team in the top 7 with a negative goal difference. Just doesn't seem right. We really need that 4th place.

and we have lost the least amount of games in the League!!

Mmmmm. . . . most draws, least lost, 3rd best goal for, 3rd best goals against, second equal goal difference. Currently 5th with a game in hand to be potentially 4th instead. Not to be bad. What is the current form of all the teams?? I know we are having 3 wins on the trot, so what's the others form??

Form over the last five games (most recent result first)

shaping up to be a very successfull season....

its looking quite positive, I think 8 points from these last games can get us there. Two wins and two draws. Hoping for no losses though

Our next two games will define if we stay in the Top 6, or get caught by the following group.

So this Perth game really is a true 6-pointer.

I hope Phoenix win all there remaining matches! I think they can do it.

anythings possible, I mean if we beat Perth we get a very handy buffer from 6th.

I'd love for us to put a fight up for the top 3. 

we deserve a home play off, I hope we get it!

2nd is a long way off but if we win all our games we could possibly sneak into 2nd which would be a miricle i know but its possible i think

Think we need to focus in cementing a top 6 place and not think about top 4 at the moment. We could end up last or first still - who knows, it's the A-League

Beat Perth and 6 or 7 point gap to 6th opens up depending on results..now that would be  a cushion in a our three away game week..

Sydney 0 GCU 1

Play-off draw as @ 17/1; 

 

Finals Week 1: Saturday, Sunday 20/21 Feb

A) Gold Coast vs Sydney (1st leg) (1st vs 2nd)

B)  Melbourne vs Perth @ Etihad (3rd vs 6th)

C)  Jets vs Nix @ Newcastle (4th vs 5th)

 

 

Finals Week 2: Saturday, Sunday 6/7 March

D) 1st vs 2nd ( Second Leg)

E)  Winner B vs Winner C

Prelim Final; Sat 13 March

F) Loser (MatchA+MatchD) v Winner Match E

..and finally Grand Final; Sat 20 March

Winner (MatchA+ MatchD) v Winner Match F

Whitby boy2010-01-17 21:00:22

Never mind. I saw you edited it.
Buffon II2010-01-17 21:01:07

Spewing bloody Gold Coast are 1st.

We are nearing on the playoffs. If we get 8 points from our final 5 games, we guarantee ourselves a playoff berth. Of course, if CCM/Brisbane/NQF/Adelaide lose enough points too we will qualify that way.

As for Newcastle's draw, NQF away from home will be tough, CCM will lift for the F3 Derby...that said, every time they are playing at EAS they seem to win - don't think they have lost there since we beat them - hopefully their run stops pronto.

For us, beating Adelaide at Chch and CCM (when they are hopefully out of contention) would help us a lot. Away games in Perth, Melbourne and the Gold Coast are a real test of where we have come with those three wins (granted, they were wins, but they were against teams ranked 7th-9th). We haven't lost to any of the three teams in six games, but four have been at the ROF.

Im hoping Phoenix can get up to 3rd so they can have a home playoffs

4th is still attainable and would also secure us a home final. 3rd is a way off. Also, I am sure that if 3rd loses to 6th and 4th beats 5th, then 4th would host 6th.

Same here, so annoying.

They just aren't that good its so frustrating. Home playoff would be some sort of crazy dream, chance to recreate the Nov. 14 atmosphere.

they are riding the wave of a great start to the season, at least we can say we killed the top of the table 6 - 0

Top 3 is gonna be a tough ask. Will have to beat both Melbourne and GCU. We have the quality, but I think the top 6 teams are going to be decided by consistency. 

i think third is a step too far looking at the table... 4th is definitely attainable, i would say we're even favourites for that spot... big 2 weeks coming now... to perth, then in melbourne midweek, then to christchurch... lot of travel, i'd be happy with 4 points to be honest... 6 would be nice