Melbourne A vs. Nix, Sunday 14th 5pm

ill be glad when we see the back of downey, pantelis & pav

 For Red Mist to play again Brockie of My Favourite Belgian is gonna have to be injured... which could happen.

Phoenix - Bertos & Lochhead stay with Phoenix

Paston

Bertos Boxall Durante Lochhead

Fenton Muscat Smith Ifill

Huysengems Boyd

Subs; Basalaj, Lindsay, Lia (if fit), Clarke

AW - Hogg for Lochhead, Howieson for Bertos

Moss

Reid Nelsen Smith

Rojas McGlinchey Vicelich Barbarouses

Smeltz Killen Wood

Subs; O'Keefe or Gleeson, Sigmund, Hogg, Payne, Keat, Brockie

let's not musa luke rowe just yet

Ricki has already named the AW squad so it isn't going to change.  He was under pressure to name the strongest squad possible and he has.

As for Pantelis and/or Downey.  We'd have to pay them if they left anyway as part of the cap and their contract.  Nothing to be gained from chopping anyone except squad spae which we don't need to free up anyway.

oh i get that it's not going to change but still its as simple as leaving bertos and lochhead and one of either Paston or Moss with the Phoenix rather than blooding all these youth guys at once. anyway

if this was other year. you'd think that the heart would put us to the sword, but this time I like our depth considering. Imagine if we took 7 players out of the roars 1st 11, or the tards, they would b cactus. But Im pretty optimistic for this one. at least a draw....we look strong up the spine of the team, dura+ boxy, Smith + Manny,  Waffles + Clarke/Boyd

do you think manny will stay in mid field? could be tempting to put him and RB. 

shite... I hope they dont...

Imagine the outcry if he picked a understrength team and we didn't get 6 points.  Ricki has to keep the two jobs seperate.  International duty takes priority over club so he's done the right thing.

You would think that if Moss didn't play on Tuesday and Paston remained uninjured that Moss could fly into Melbourne and play before rejoining the AWs. You could make the argument that the game time would actually be beneficial.

Sounds good to me.

What is the story behind that avatar?

Howa bout Putting 10 up front and just scoring more?

I think a much more balanced team would be better

Agree Ifill up front not on wing, he is getting a bit long in the tooth, would love to see Greeny on the bench with a kit on.

Manny has to remain in midfield he is a defensive rock however unlike Brown (at the end) he has great vision (and huge luck) on attack, after years of watching the Phoenix attack and muff 70% of our crosses/ through balls the two that manny played on saturday were a revelation. He has to stay there!!1

 Agree with Ricki naming the strongest All Whites side possible. There has been enough comments about him having the two roles. If Ricki wasn't the All Whites coach then whoever it was would probably be taking the exact same players we are losing. I'm more annoyed at the FAA for not rescheduling this match.

and not asking them to go before the end of the season though but what a waste of time it has been with pantelis and downey. pavs got better but he's a young australian taking a young kiwis spot!

Cameron Lindsay must play this weekend. He's the only member of the squad never to have got on the park, and this is his second season!

Interesting that Boxall will play for the Nix as he wasn't selected for the All Whites. Still, the national team have plenty of centre backs.

Yeah looking forward to seeing Lindsay. He's impressed me every time I've seen him - albeit not at RB very much.

Sucks that Lia and Muscat are probably both ahead of him in pecking order. I hope he takes his shot at RB with both hands. He's been damn unlikely in the past (not making olys) and he has got a lot of potential if given a shot

I think the GK position is interesting. I know internationals take priority but could they not have called in Spoonley or Gleeson for the AWs bench instead of Moss or Paston? I rate Basalaj and will be stoked to see him capped but just wonder if that particular selection could have been different for this situation. 

Would take Imray for Nix back up over Spoonley too. 

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/phoenix-struggling-to-field-a-side/49824 

Yes, but if Imray has to go on, TeeDubs don't have any keepers.  If Spoonley has to come on and cover Basalaj Auckland City will have other options.

Struggle to see TW only carrying one GK. They usually have that guy from Tawa as their #2 or #3 and there are other decent GK's around Wellington who could come in.

 Basalaj will be one, Imray the other.  If they both play for the 'nix they don't have another option for the opening couple of weeks.

Will be interesting to see how Stein goes with a different striking partner.

I have a hunch that Pavlovic could come in to his own this year as a sub for Brockie. His style of agressive direct play could be deadly alongside Stein. I'm just imagining a wayward passback and both Stein and Pav simultaneously charging down the keeper from different angles, LOL.

In some ways it's not a question of who is the best solo player out of Brockie/Pav/Boyd/Clarke, it's more a question of who can build up the best rapport with Stein to play the quick one-twos. 

There's something funny going on with Pavlovic if you hadn't already heard. He's been no where near the Nix all pre-season and is now either 'injured' or 'unavailable' according to most articles surrounding team selection. He was playing in Aus not long ago, I don't think he's injured. 

I would say no longer required but still on our books? Would like to hear more from the club about it. 

Would much rather Boyd or Watson given a go anyway. Particularly because both have been working hard for a spot while Pavlovic is elsewhere. That and young Kiwi>young Aussie obviously. 

 Perhaps Pav tried to do a bicycle kick again.

Dura is going to be a busy lad organising the back four and keeper

pleased our midfield will be intact (apart from Torts)

still have some decent options up front

bring it on!!

I thought he was on loan?

 Pav? Nah. He's still in Sydney.

Can't say I'm optimistic about this one. Unsettled and inexperienced back four has me a little worried. However I am very eager to see these young players get a run and see how they go.

I think we wll be a little disorganized and leaky defensively but we still have a bit of attacking class in Ifill and Stein as well as a bunch of young guns looking to make an impression and Muscat and Smith will still be sitting solid in midfield.

I reckon we'll nab a draw and be fairly satisfied with ourselves.

Possibly the best time to see where our youngsters are at.  Seniors are going to have to step up even more.  I'd be happy with a draw then a heavy loss that sees us tumble down the table.  Jam tards will be rubbing their hands together thinking it's going to be an easy 3 points for them.

What's the best D-Mac will score against us?