Match 5 vs Sydney FC | Mon 8th Feb | 9:10pm | SS7

Piscopo may be back. 

fingers crossed, I feel like he will make a massive impact. Even from the bench.

SFC 4-0, VAR with a brace, Ref with a pen and a own goal to finish it off. COYN!

Just gives us 90 minutes of threat. I've been unfair to Muratovic because he isn't Piscopo- he's not a player with that level of experience.

Hasn't appeared to be able to have the same level of impact, but uffie must see something in training so i'm happy with that.  Will be delighted if Piscopo is back, I'm hoping he's the final piece of the puzzle in the forward dept.

For those like me without Sky Sport, I received this update from Prime TV yesterday about their Phoenix and general A-League coverage:

"I can confirm that Prime will be airing the Round 6 A-League highlights this Friday at 10:30 pm, and will have the other round highlights also on Fridays but start times may differ."

Highlights of every Phoenix match continue screening the day after the match at 6 pm with the Monday night game vs. Sydney FC screening Tuesday next week at 6 pm."

We played better the last time we played against them and the luck will be on our side, we will trash them 3:1!

I really hope we can jump this hurdle and finally give Sydney a spanking.

Some interesting stats from @rovingrob

https://twitter.com/rovingrob/status/1357081239308...

'Nix average the most shots taken per game in the league, with 16 shots per match, but also conceded the most shots per match, with almost 18 shots faced per match.

So the good news is "Our attack is great", but there is also the bad news... "... our defence is not ideal"

We've scored 5 goals in 4 matches, so I wouldn't conclude our attack is great just because we've taken lots of shots.

our attack is creative just not efficient.

Expected goals of 0.47 sounds right to me. We are a lot around the box, but no really dangerous in the box and the crosses and corner hardly go past the first man.

Its about time we beat the smurfs. We are due after recent performances against them. can't be any excuses anymore, they may have won it all last year, but we have to go for the W.

Nah

Bling 0 Nix 1 I reckon

Its a long wait ..

Damn it, they've Mondayised our game.

Sorry everyone, after watching other team's games, I don't think the Nix has what it takes to be in the top 6 this season. At most, bottom 5 for us.

(Hopefully, they prove me wrong!)

I tend to agree, however I’m curious to know how you came to this conclusion?

At season start I thought we had a strong squad with good depth on the bench. But have been a little underwhelmed by Muratovic and Riddenton off the bench so far. Is it time to see a bit more of Fenton Sutton Waine and TAHW.

I think our starting XI has the ability to beat anyone in the league on there day (starting on Monday hopefully). Although I do have concerns with our defence, but believe we just need time to gel as a unit. Laws and McGarry have not played alot of football over the last year or so, so need game time, which they are now getting. Also hope to see TAHW a bit more in that back line. 

What I see from other teams is a bit inconsistent. (similar to us). The teams that are doing well, there young players are stepping up and making a statement. 

I disagree, from what I've seen we have dominated more games than we haven't. All we need is for Hemed to click in with the other attackers and we will be in the goals. The defence are not as strong as last year, but not too dodgy (c.f. Victory's).

Agreed, with some caveats.  We have dominated in early parts of the games and had strong periods of the second half (except against Newcastle and CCM where we visibly wilted). Our early games against Sydney FC and Macarthur Rams were actually better examples of what we could do against a slower and more technical opposition (bring on Victory), as opposed to our inability to control the "smash and grab" teams like CCM and the Jets.  

Personally I do not read much into this early season stumbles - I learned last year that Talay takes his time to settle on the best 11 or 13, and will stick with them unnless he can buy a decent player on the transfer market later on.

Ref: Chris Beath

P33 W12 D8 L13

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/12...

Come on we have to win this one. That would leave all 3 Melbourne teams in the bottom 3. COYN.

This point !!

Game day! I really hope Sail is in goal for us, if not then surely this has to be Marinovic's last game between the post if he blows this again.

Rufer to score

COYN!!

Blows it again..?!? he was in the team of the week last week!

(I know team of the week is all stat based etc etc)

marinovich has been poor. No idea how he got in team of the week.

I actually thought Marinovic made some cracking saves last week. His distribution improved a lot from the game before also.

I think if we score goals before Sydney do, it can turn the game in our favor. Shutting down their midfield quickly will be important as well as stopping them from playing out from the back.

if we beat Sydney then our goal keeper will be man of the match

for happiness insurance I’m taking 3-0 Sydney, at the tab