Match 7 vs WSW | Sun 21st Feb | 8:10pm | SS7

Please don't be shark 

Cmon you Nixxx, shock everyone!

Injury Update from the Nix:

Cameron Devlin is available for selection for the Western Sydney Wanderers match on Sunday.

Joshua Laws sustained an ankle injury during the Wellington Phoenix versus Central Coast Mariners match on 14 Feb 2021. The club is currently awaiting the results of an MRI, and Law’s availability for selection for Sunday’s match versus Western Sydney Wanderers will be dependent on the outcome of this scan.

Tomer Hemed sustained a low-grade hamstring strain during the Wellington Phoenix versus Sydney FC match on 8 February 2021. Hemed’s estimated return to play will be two weeks.

Jaushua Sotirio sustained a Grade 2 MCL injury to the knee during training prior to the Sydney FC match on 8 February 2021. Sotirio’s estimated return to play is now four weeks.

Luke DeVere sustained a serious knee injury during the Wellington Phoenix versus Central Coast Mariners match on 14 Feb 2021 and is due for surgery today. DeVere’s return to play is anticipated to be 10-12 weeks. 

What is the 'Sister Cities Shield'?

https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/wellington-...

The Wellington Phoenix take on the Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday 21 February, 6.10pm AEDT at WIN Stadium in Wollongong in a battle for the Sister Cities Shield.

Best possible line

up given our injuries?

Payne used to play CB during his time at Eastern Suburbs. Could bring something different to our back line.

Going on season to date, all signs point to Muratovic starting ahead of Waine.

And of course won't know until after Laws's ankle scan if he ruled out or not. Read an article where he has already had about 5-6 bad ankle injuries prior in Germany, with couple of surgeries.

Harsh on TAHW, as not had much playing time at the Nix to date, but he seems prone to costly errors at A League level so far. With DeVere out long term, hopefully he gets a good run of games, feels comfortable and looks the part. Having someone vocal alongside him, like Laws/Payne in his ear maybe better than quiet DeVere.

What is everyone's obsession with Waine? I don't get the hype - I saw more in McCowatt, but maybe he hasn't had the opportunities to impress. Mirza also hasn't exactly impressed but he does have a goal so there's that.

Oh Dear!!

PMSL in the immediate response!!

This will be a very interesting game. So long as no one gets sent off in the first 75 minutes.

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

McGing will start alongside Wihongi. One would imagine they have paired up a lot in training drills as the back up pairing so they should at least be familiar with one another.

I personally think that Messi is a better player than either Waine or McCowatt.

Based on what? 

His goals per 90 minutes ratio is outstanding.

Never played at the Ring of Dirt tho?

Messi has won exactly 0 A-League games and has never even scored a goal in the A-League so.... 

Admittedly he's not proven at A-league level, but we have import slots available so worth a punt.

On a positive note, if we stay compact and park the bus I'm hopeful we can get a draw out of this game. Just counter as the kids are fast enough for that style of play. Playing long ballz and avoiding the midfield would be the way to go.

Our midfield is our strength... our weakness is everywhere else.

Not confident, but sometimes you need your back to the wall.

He's 33 years old, better to take the punt on someone we can develop and sell, like Rodriguez or Smith.

I think we will find it hard to get anything out of this game, I have belief in the kids to put up a good fight but that's it. No strikers will make it hard as will the inexperience of the kids, that's why i am expecting a lot of longballs from the back.

from the ashes! We will rise again!

I dont why I feel that we will get a draw out of Sunday's game and then start on an unbeaten run.

.....

I must be stupid.

https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/match-day-g...

The Sister Cities Shield recognises the Sister Cities relationship between Blacktown City in Western Sydney and Porirua, a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand.

The winner of the match between us and the black and red takes home the coveted Sister City Shield and will be presented to the winning team this Sunday.

A nice picture of green and nothing else.

Yeah didn't work copying in photo of this glorious public servant trophy from the Nix club link.

Someone smarter than me is welcome to try.

Just resize the picture by 50% or more till you're happy with it.

Noice. Very kissable (post Covid of course)

Really hope we can get something out of this game. Even a point would suffice against a team who are unbeaten in their past 6 games. We beat them pre-season 3-1, although WSW fielded a young squad, and the goal scorers (Ball, Sotirio & DeVere) are out.

Hope Waineo starts ahead of Muratovic. Muratovic has been disappointing apart from his goal. But maybe Talay sees something in him we don't. Our full-backs are going to have to combine well with Piscopo and Lewis.

Would that be our first piece of silverware like ever??? 

Sadly we are going to miss Bally tomorrow. He hasn't been firing as much as last season (no one really has, maybe except for Davila) but he's improved with every game and brings a dynamism and the ability to take players on that will be sorely missed. 

My own subjective view is that Ball did not work well with Davila last season and we overlooked it once Hooper and Ball showed off their natural understanding and combined well.  I see Ball working out some nice moves with McGarry though.  There is room to improve for Ball this season so that he is not stranded as much.

Neither had much of an opportunity this season as yet, Waine less so.

we won the Huewai Capital Cup against the mighty Beijing BG. Champions of the Huewai Capitla cup!! You will never sing that!

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

so Lokoli-Ngoy was the mysterious "trialist" knocking in all those goals in the pre-season games?