Match 14 vs Macarthur | Sun 28th Mar | 6:05pm | SS7

Piscopo in doubt for this one after coming off at HT. I guess Devlin comes in for him if he isn't available?

Team should be buoyed by the last win, Looking a lot more clinical in attack. Another must win if we want to make the six, as three points will put us in touch and only 2 point behind Macarthur.

RR

Piscopo in doubt for this one after coming off at HT. I guess Devlin comes in for him if he isn't available?

Lewis into the Piscopo role and Devlin into his? Keep Satorio for the 75th minute substitution.

I thought Lewis looked really sharp after being shifted out wide. Piscopo has been unreal recently but I think Lewis will put in an at worst competent performance, and should be pretty confident after getting off the mark on Wednesday night. If not then I'd like to see Devlin come back in but probably in place of Rufer. I've been a big defender of Rufer and I like him a lot but too many times he slowly jogs back when we are being countered instead of busting a gut like Cammy, far too pedestrian from him recently

5-1 Nixs, We are scoring goals for fun and our striker is just finding form, Plus McBulls aren't that good. Just got this gut feeling we could be duped by the VAR and refs again because everyone favors the new club (FFA etc).

another must win game - if the desired 9 points from 4 games is the success mark.
need the points to stay in the hunt for the 6

Has been such a strange season. There were only a few games where I thought we were genuinely bad. We were just missing someone like a Krishna to pull us through the tight ones.

Jazzy Jeff

I thought Lewis looked really sharp after being shifted out wide. Piscopo has been unreal recently but I think Lewis will put in an at worst competent performance, and should be pretty confident after getting off the mark on Wednesday night. If not then I'd like to see Devlin come back in but probably in place of Rufer. I've been a big defender of Rufer and I like him a lot but too many times he slowly jogs back when we are being countered instead of busting a gut like Cammy, far too pedestrian from him recently

If we could combine Devlin and Rufer we'd have a real player..

Devlin is a poor mid to long passer, but runs all day. Rufer is the opposite; like you said, I don't really ever see him get up to more than a jog. Even v Victory, he left a whole lot of space in that first 20 mins especially.

I suspect it would be easier to teach Devlin better ball control than change Rufer's tendency to be slow and sluggish around the field.

To be fair everyone looked sluggish that 1st half, which isn't surprising given they played on a heavy water logged pitch only three days earlier. If not for a few moments of brilliance at either end of the pitch we could've been 2-0 down at the break.

Outpost

To be fair everyone looked sluggish that 1st half, which isn't surprising given they played on a heavy water logged pitch only three days earlier. If not for a few moments of brilliance at either end of the pitch we could've been 2-0 down at the break.

true, but Rufer's usual style when off the ball is slow and sluggish, he jogs around the pitch never really seeming to put any effort into getting around. Compare that to Devlin who tears around like a crazy man. They are totally different players, but I think Rufer would be so much better if he defended with more fire.

Do we have an info on Reno? The way he went down sure looked bad. I thought he'd snapped his Achilles. Could also be a calf injury given the fact that he's suffered from that before. 

newzealandpower

Do we have an info on Reno? The way he went down sure looked bad. I thought he'd snapped his Achilles. Could also be a calf injury given the fact that he's suffered from that before. 

Tight calf

coochiee

newzealandpower

Do we have an info on Reno? The way he went down sure looked bad. I thought he'd snapped his Achilles. Could also be a calf injury given the fact that he's suffered from that before. 

Tight calf

Phew...
Give him a week off against Bulls to prevent aggravation and keep him on ice till the game against the Tards.

Royz

5-1 Nixs, We are scoring goals for fun and our striker is just finding form, Plus McBulls aren't that good. Just got this gut feeling we could be duped by the VAR and refs again because everyone favors the new club (FFA etc).

Are you sick mate?  A positive post, must mean we're doomed ;-p

UPDATE: I was right  :-(

What about Wayne out wide for Reno? Lewis has been good in the middle but lacks pace and gas imo  currently.
Centrally he's passed well and been a goal threat.
Or Sotirio starting? 

Bulls are possession based and look to break teams down. I would not be surprised or unhappy to see Josh or Ben used heavily in this match with a counter attacking mentality.

I think this will be a ugly game to watch with both teams attacking on the counter playing longball, I'll take a ugly win over a decent loss.

Piscopo is a big loss for us. He might go for the more selfish option a little too much for my liking but there is no doubt he is one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the comp at the moment.

Outpost

Piscopo is a big loss for us. He might go for the more selfish option a little too much for my liking but there is no doubt he is one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the comp at the moment.

Piscopo's option taking is easily his biggest work on. If he could consistently improve that, Nix will be able to sell him to some Euro club for a nice little profit.

But imagine it's a big work in progress, for Talay and the coaching staff. Still that trap and pass in leadup to Hemed's goal was pure class. 

And wouldn't mind seeing Ngoy (or Waine) subbed on earlier than Sotiro. Thought Ngoy showed some nice touches against VUC, and is better at holding up play than Sotiro who was subbed on too early for Hemed against the Roar. MacArthur will be a tight game, and don't want a situation once Hemed comes off of just continuously giving possession away late on.

Adam Fielding has the whistle tomorrow.

McGarry, Payne, Davila, & Lewis have featured in every match this season. 

Game day, fire up.  Let's 'gong 🔥 🐔 

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/124674788/phoenix-look-to-clayton-lewis-to-provide-the-spark-in-absence-of-injured-star

Getting that goal last week should be a confidence booster for Lewis, I hope he presses on as seems to be getting better each week. (albiet a few dodgy passes last week). Is he an improvement on McCowatt from last season? Different type of players, but both sharing that no. 10 role with Piscopo.

I swear this gut feeling wont go away that we are gonna be screwed by the VAR and Ref.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2021/03/28/australia/a-league/wellington-phoenix/south-west-united/3462426/

Devlin in for Piscopo. TAHW onto the bench. Ridenton right out of favour.

Looking forward to this one, after another 3 points today please boys!

We were all over Macarthur earlier in the season until Rufer copped that bullshark red and we ended up dropping the points. If we get some semblance of a rub of the green from officials, then I'm pretty confident we'll win this one.

Gutted Reno isn’t playing. Calling a 2-2 draw but hoping for a 4-0 😎 🔥 🦅 

Rufer, pass forwards

Who's the commentator, seems like a new guy? 

siac

Who's the commentator, seems like a new guy? 

 Russ Gibbs

Okay the drummers can gtfo now. Just annoying.

He's been doing the W League Canberra games

Subbed before VAR got him for nothing.

Ffs Taylor subbed off.

Lachyloolaa

siac

Who's the commentator, seems like a new guy? 

 Russ Gibbs

 Not a fan so far...

Well bugga. There goes a very vital part to our defence. Hopefully we won't make the mistakes we have previously

Taylor paying the price for his 90 minutes last match straight out of quarantine?