Melbourne A vs. Nix, Sunday 14th 5pm

646 replies · 31,581 views

over 13 years ago · edited over 13 years ago · History

Looks like Basalaj is sick and will miss out. Gutted for him, would have loved to see him have a crack

Also really keen to see Rowe play - Lochhead is probably the only guy never to have been dropped for the Phoenix in our entire history so nice to see whether he actually deserves that status.

Normo's coming home

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over 13 years ago

Fuck what a shambles. Gould might look set to return to the bench as backup backup backup keeper, unless they end up getting someone like Imray in, which they probably wont due to reasons explained earlier

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over 13 years ago · edited over 13 years ago · History

james dean wrote:

terminator_x wrote:

james dean wrote:

Hard News wrote:

As we said on the PodCast (I think) I don't agree with it. Start Basalaj he's the keeper on the clubs books and at least as good as Spoonley. If we're playing Spoonley we should be starting Imray instead (if he has NZ residency sorted) as he is the best keeper in the ASB Premiership.

If you're taking a punt, take a punt on the keeper at the club.

It would completely undermine the school of excellence programme. Guys have to go into the programme knowing they will get opportunities. If it all blows up well that's the way it goes. He's 18 - it's not like he's an absolute kid

I'm pretty sure Basalaj not getting promoted for one game won't completely undermine the school of excellence programme. Especially when two of the initial intake got pro contracts within a few months, and at least a couple of others will play in this game anyway.

Agree that I would prefer to see Basalaj play ahead of Spoonley though.

What I'm saying is that if you can still be back up for the Phoenix playing in the ASB Prem why would you join the centre of excellence?

I think signing the 2 young guys is great - but that could have happened without COE - it's what the youth spots should have been used for anyway. Personally I think the success of the programme has to be how many of those who are in it now end up with professional contracts next year and/or the year after.

Unless he's not fit (which it seems he may not be), I think you just have to play him

Why join the academy? Because you could train in a professional environment and actually get a pro contract (as Fenton and Boyd have done) while still playing ASB Prem. Isn't that obvious? Spoonley is only in the frame because 2 goalkeepers are away with the All Whites and the FFA won't postpone the game. It's an exceptional circumstance and yes, he may have got the nod over Basalaj but Basalaj is in the academy because he has potential, not because he's the finished product.

Signing players from the ASB Prem didn't really happen without the academy. The academy has clearly provided an environment in which the Nix feel more comfortable evaluating the suitability of players for professional football (which is about a hell of a lot more than just their ability on the pitch).

I agree that the succes of the academy will be partly about how many players go on to play professionally a) for the Nix and b) for someone else. And at least two of the initial intake of eight will have pro contracts at the end of that time frame (Fenton and Boyd). 25% isn't a bad success rate to start out with when it can only get better. Of course, that only makes it tougher for the rest to get contracts at the Nix. It will be interesting to see if any of the others can pick up pro contracts elsewhere off the back of their academy experience, even if it requires a move back to the ASB Prem or Aussie state leagues first.

JD - I understand your natural prediliction to play devil's advocate, and it is very early days, but it's hard not to call the academy anything but a raging success at the moment. The Spoonley/Basalaj scenario doesn't undermine that at all. It's just a one-off exception, nothing more (and Basalaj having the squirts makes it moot anyway).

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over 13 years ago

Quoting people in this forum is a fucking nightmare btw. Took me ages to sort that out.

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over 13 years ago

terminator_x wrote:

james dean wrote:

terminator_x wrote:

james dean wrote:

[quote=Hard News]

Needs more quotes.

E + R + O

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over 13 years ago · edited over 13 years ago · History

Poll on FFA website for which team will score the most goals this season - Louis Fenton topped the voting in the last poll a few days ago as to "Best A-League Debut 2012-2013".

Current standings (Phoenix first-equal with the Roar on 15%):

POLL

Which club will score the most goals this season?

13%- Perth Glory / 4%- Wanderers FC / 3%- Central Coast Mariners / 12%- Sydney FC / 11%- Adelaide United / 8%- Melbourne Heart / 11%- Melbourne Victory / 15%- Wellington Phoenix / 15%- Brisbane Roar / 8%- Newcastle Jets

GET IN THERE AND VOTE !!!

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Phoenix-unsure-on-starting-lineup/50053

Big Pete 65, Christchurch

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over 13 years ago

Anyone else somewhat hoping that the two games on Saturday suffer from noticeably lower television viewers due to the Kangaroos playing the Kiwis? I am. Seeing as FFA try so hard to avoid conflicting schedules with league and afl at the expense of their own clubs

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over 13 years ago

Trying to blend with the locals so I can spread the Fever by knocking off a few pints at the Mitre Tavern

Founder

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over 13 years ago

Feverish wrote:

Trying to blend with the locals so I can spread the Fever by knocking off a few pints at the Mitre Tavern

Keep up the good work Feverish, you are on a mission from God.

We're the WELLINGTON Phoenix

And this is our Home

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over 13 years ago · edited over 13 years ago · History

terminator_x wrote:

james dean wrote:

terminator_x wrote:

james dean wrote:

Hard News wrote:

If you're taking a punt, take a punt on the keeper at the club.

Agree that I would prefer to see Basalaj play ahead of Spoonley though.

What I'm saying is that if you can still be back up for the Phoenix playing in the ASB Prem why would you join the centre of excellence?

Unless he's not fit (which it seems he may not be), I think you just have to play him

Basically I agree, but like you I think you have to judge the academy on what the guys in there now go on to do, not what Fenton and Boyd do. You can say 25% are now playing professionally, but two of the initial 8 were guaranteed a pro contract!! That really has nothing to do with the academy. I think having 8 guys all around the same age makes it tough for them because you can't ens up with 8 21 year olds in your squad. So I hope some of the guys coming through are a bit younger just to stagger it out a bit.

Does anyone know when Lochhead's contract expires? Tough for Rowe to break in when you are a specialist and the guy ahead of you is also a specialist in the one position. He's the one I'm most excited to see this weekend. Also keen to see Lindsay but a pity he has to play out of position. I wonder whether Lia should be the one to switch to RB, big ask to make your debut out of position (Musa, cough, Musa)

Normo's coming home

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over 13 years ago

Not fair to say that 2 of the 8 were guaranteed a contract. They weren't. I think it came as a pleasant surprise to most people when that happened so quickly.

I'm also looking forward to seeing Rowe and the others play, but Rowe's got his work cut out dislodging Lochhead. I know it's fashionable to slag Lochhead but I thought he was good against Sydney. Watching the replay I counted at least 5 or 6 decent crosses into the box by him in the first 20 minutes alone.

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over 13 years ago

No to mention some mostly decent quality corners and free kicks. Apart from some recent AWs games I don't recall Lochy taking corners before.

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over 13 years ago

Yeha I'm not a Lochhead hater, just interested to see what else is out there

Normo's coming home

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over 13 years ago

One thing that was impressive about ADP were his corners. Absolutely whipped in, low and hard and dipping. Compared to Leo's which were basically up and unders!! I say give them to Fenton he can do everything else well

Normo's coming home

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over 13 years ago

I'm really excited about going to this game, even though I fear the worst result-wise. It will be good to see all these young Kiwi guys I've been reading about for so long. The Phoenix is now chock full of NZers in a way I've been wanting to see since season 1.

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over 13 years ago

Lochhead never really plays very well or very poor. His form only seems to fluctuate from below average to above average. I think most people get annoyed with him when his form isn't great and his passes/crosses aren't finding anyone and that if they had it could have been the difference. I'm not a great fan of his either but he very rarely has a howler (lets forget about 14.11.09). People really do like to loathe him but the truth is he's not an exceptional player, though he's okay and he does generally get the job done in a position there usually isn't a lot of depth. Of course it would be nice to have an exceptional player therr but this is the A-League. Hopefully Rowe offers more. I know the lad has a very decent cross on him.

Fruglo on 15.01.2013 wrote:

Fuck this stupid game

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over 13 years ago

james dean wrote:

That was one quality that daniel added when he was on the park. His corners from the right were always dangerous. Fair shout saying give Fenton a crack. Lad can header a ball though...

Fruglo on 15.01.2013 wrote:

Fuck this stupid game

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over 13 years ago

james dean wrote:

Sydney only had two corners in the whole game, and the first one was shite. We made it look good by failing to clear it though.

His free kicks were good.

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over 13 years ago

On the early flight to Melbourne .... f*.ck it's early .... airport at 4:30 is surprisingly busy

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over 13 years ago

Big Pete 65 wrote:

Poll on FFA website for which team will score the most goals this season - Louis Fenton topped the voting in the last poll a few days ago as to "Best A-League Debut 2012-2013".

Current standings (Phoenix first-equal with the Roar on 15%):

POLL

Which club will score the most goals this season?

GET IN THERE AND VOTE !!!

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Phoenix-unsure-on-starting-lineup/50053

All this proves is that there are more sad internet surfers (or happy or happy ok ok) from Brisbane and NZ than anywhere else, though Perth is giving it a go

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over 13 years ago

terminator_x wrote:

james dean wrote:

Sydney only had two corners in the whole game, and the first one was shite. We made it look good by failing to clear it though.

His free kicks were good.

Fenton hit that one where Smith almost scored I think?

yeh Pressure will be on Leo and Lochy to produce higher percentage delivery for sure.

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over 13 years ago

Cam lindsay out now too. Lia RB. Biss to start

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over 13 years ago

Starting to look a bit more dicey now.

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over 13 years ago

Its like a bad disney film

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over 13 years ago

tripvincent wrote:

Cam lindsay out now too. Lia RB. Biss to start

Where did you hear that? Gutted for the kid, if true. He might have to wait for the Jets game in Wellington, during the next FIFA window, for his debut.

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