First wasn't offside, 15ft describes the distance in terms of width between our back four...appauling...
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I think we're all pretty disappointed, but maybe we only have ourselves to blame for that.
It is a massive ask to go from a lowly team to a top team with only the few personnel changes that we've had. Look at today's starting line up and it's pretty much the same as last year's but without Smeltz.
So why should we expect to be much better? Manage your own expectations, that is the key to being a Phoenix fan.
By the way, Ricki is a vastly superior coach to Branko Cullina. And I say that having worked with both of them.
It is a massive ask to go from a lowly team to a top team with only the few personnel changes that we've had. Look at today's starting line up and it's pretty much the same as last year's but without Smeltz.
So why should we expect to be much better? Manage your own expectations, that is the key to being a Phoenix fan.
By the way, Ricki is a vastly superior coach to Branko Cullina. And I say that having worked with both of them.
Culina did very well in the old NSL. He's won trophies in professional leagues. Ricki hasn't. Today the Jetz were no better than us, but their tactics were far superior. The coach calls the tactics. Yes, Culina was dumped by Sydney Fc, but the fact he was picked up by another club shows that he must be doing something right! I doubt Ricki would get picked up by anotheA-league club because in reality he has achieved f**k all
Bless. Someone who thinks that trophies are a good indication of coaching ability.
The old addage that players win games and coaches lose them is pretty simplistic.
Ricki knows the game. I don't agree with his every move, but I cannot see how anyone can lay the blame at his feet alone.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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Actually it's a myth. Culina has in fact won VERY little.
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I agree with scottish boy. I thought Hearfield was average. I counted time after time he gave the ball away through ineffective moves or passes.
Bertos the only player on the park. Great game...he still can't shoot though!
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I can see that immediately post match Ballane... I'm pretty sure PP is over it now, but at around 81 minutes this evening I could have felt the same way.
Thats alright think yourself lucky you wernt here to see me throw the toys out of my grand daughters cot.
Quick, someone please ring Sue Bradford!!
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
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Thought that they deserved the win more than us, though a draw wouldn't have been unfair. Our defence was hideous at times. I was worried about Paston before the game and my fears were confirmed. Moss would have saved at least one of the first two goals, and there was another time that Paston was hopelessly lost coming off his line. We'll continue to lose cheap goals with him keeping. Daniel was his usual awful self when he came on. Gives the ball away constantly.
Have watched three of the other A-League games though and thought Newcastle played really well. Song is a lovely player. Thought Bertos played really well, and was very pleased about that. Apart from him, I thought they just looked more classy through thte middle of the park. Am hoping Diego can add the spice we need next week.
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I agree with scottish boy. I thought Hearfield was average. I counted time after time he gave the ball away through ineffective moves or passes.
How hard does he work? Does he ever give it full throttle - chasing back or making a run forward, it may just be running style but I get the impression he's only ever up to 3/4 pace.
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Thought that they deserved the win more than us, though a draw wouldn't have been unfair. Our defence was hideous at times. I was worried about Paston before the game and my fears were confirmed. Moss would have saved at least one of the first two goals, and there was another time that Paston was hopelessly lost coming off his line. We'll continue to lose cheap goals with him keeping.
He couldn't have done anything more for the first goal. If he stayed on his line Hoffman could have take 2 or 3 touches before shooting. At least by coming out he closed down the angle and made Hoffman shoot first time.
He couldn't have done anything more for the first goal. If he stayed on his line Hoffman could have take 2 or 3 touches before shooting. At least by coming out he closed down the angle and made Hoffman shoot first time.
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Moss didn't have the best of games either. Slipping over on a goal kick, kicking straight at the oppo striker. Moss is gone, time to remember place him in our past.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
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Sure, Moss has gone. But I don't think Paston is up to it to be honest. Never have. He can save shots, but he doesn't know what he's up to when he's coming out. That first goal he should have has his arms out. Make yourself big. Spilt the second goal - a good goalie would've held onto it. Another time he charged out when he shouldn't have and was in his usual no mans land. Just reminds me over and over of that time he let 5 or 6 goals behind him.
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I actually thought Pasty did quite well tonight.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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I actually thought Pasty did quite well tonight.
if you think that you need to be shot.
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As did I. Just left horribly exposed.
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and you should settle.
Paston had an ineffective defense in front of him. he did what he could.
Paston had an ineffective defense in front of him. he did what he could.
Improving,,on the up, a work in progress from Italiano and the Nix. Bring on the bathroom bling in '24! COYN!
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As did I. Just left horribly exposed.
WTF ARE YOU GUYS ON ?????????????
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double doses of reality...once the alcohol wore off... you?
Improving,,on the up, a work in progress from Italiano and the Nix. Bring on the bathroom bling in '24! COYN!
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Do enlighten me "whooooooo" on what Paston did wrong this evening to make you feel this way?
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It's not all Paston's fault, he shouldn't have been exposed by terrible defence like he was. But a good keeper would have held the shot before the second goal. It's not just that, he just constantly looks dodgy. What's this young keeper we signed like?
Was happy we tried to play some attacking football. Loving Bertos. Wasn't all that bad. Close away game, and Newcastle did play well in the middle of the park. This'll be another tight season.
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Hey at least tonight we had two different goalscorers and neither had the name Shane. See, we can score goals after all. Trying to be positive.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
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i'm high on common sense.
so common sense tells you that Paston was to blame for his defensive unit vanishing on several occasions and leaving him exposed. Durante was so bad tonight he may as well have not been there, Siggy went missing on occasions as well. Not a lot a keeper can do it his two CB's aren't talking to each other.
Queenslander 3x a year.
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i'm high on common sense.
so common sense tells you that Paston was to blame for his defensive unit vanishing on several occasions and leaving him exposed. Durante was so bad tonight he may as well have not been there, Siggy went missing on occasions as well. Not a lot a keeper can do it his two CB's aren't talking to each other.
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Ballane, a word of adive DON"T you EVER question my loyalty to the Wellington Phoenix.
I have supported the Kingz, Knights and Phoenix with all my heart.
I sit on the other side of the Tasman and wear my Phoenix gear around Perth with great pride.
I saved up for 6 months to go over to the Central Coast to watch MY team.
I will be at the Ring of Fire to watch my first Phoenix home game against North Queensland.
My wife said I'm crazy for supporting the Phoenix.
Work mates call me a sheep shagging Kiwi supporting a sh*t team.
Robbie Slater through Fox Sports tells me every week that my TEAM the Wellington Phoenix should not be in the A-League.
If I WANT to burn my shirt I bloody well will,( not that I would, as it cost too much).
It was an expression of how I was feeling at the time.
I Love this club.
I take my hat off to YF for having a site that WE all can express what we want to say before or after a Phoenix game.
Ricki Herbert said that the Phoenix were going to play exciting open fooball. That didn't happen.
So to all of you on this site my loyalty to the owner, players, backroom staff and supporters of this club has not changed. "Phoenix to I Die!!!!"
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It's not all Paston's fault, he shouldn't have been exposed by terrible defence like he was. But a good keeper would have held the shot before the second goal. It's not just that, he just constantly looks dodgy. What's this young keeper we signed like?
Was happy we tried to play some attacking football. Loving Bertos. Wasn't all that bad. Close away game, and Newcastle did play well in the middle of the park. This'll be another tight season.
I appreciate your thoughts, but as a goalkeeper myself, I would only consider critique from goalkeepers former and present. Observing from a goalkeeper's point of view, I felt he had a good game. As for the second goal, it was a good save, but where was Durante in the frame? The striker was seagulling with nobody marking.
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Ricki was kinda right if he promised exciting and open football. It may not have been exciting but it was open. Couldn't get more openings.
Royal2009-08-09 22:52:26
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It's not all Paston's fault, he shouldn't have been exposed by terrible defence like he was. But a good keeper would have held the shot before the second goal. It's not just that, he just constantly looks dodgy. What's this young keeper we signed like?
Was happy we tried to play some attacking football. Loving Bertos. Wasn't all that bad. Close away game, and Newcastle did play well in the middle of the park. This'll be another tight season.
I appreciate your thoughts, but as a goalkeeper myself, I would only consider critique from goalkeepers former and present. Observing from a goalkeeper's point of view, I felt he had a good game. As for the second goal, it was a good save, but where was Durante in the frame? The striker was seagulling with nobody marking.
Can't blame Durante so much for that one either. Take another look and you'll see Hearfield waving to Hoffman as he walked by
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It's not all Paston's fault, he shouldn't have been exposed by terrible defence like he was. But a good keeper would have held the shot before the second goal. It's not just that, he just constantly looks dodgy. What's this young keeper we signed like?
Was happy we tried to play some attacking football. Loving Bertos. Wasn't all that bad. Close away game, and Newcastle did play well in the middle of the park. This'll be another tight season.
I appreciate your thoughts, but as a goalkeeper myself, I would only consider critique from goalkeepers former and present. Observing from a goalkeeper's point of view, I felt he had a good game. As for the second goal, it was a good save, but where was Durante in the frame? The striker was seagulling with nobody marking.
I totally agree regarding the defence. Really disappointing. They need to be on the shoulders of the strikers - not just drifting around. If you look at that second goal again, it wasn't a stretch away from him really. It wasn't a shocker spill, but a good goalie would've held it. I can't see how anyone could say he had a good game. He caught it off a corner pretty well, and maybe saved something else... The third goal he can't be blamed for at all I don't think. The first goal, he showed a lack of technique/anticipation by not spreading his body out when the guy shot. It wasn't his fault that the guy got through on goal, but he should've done better to try and save it.
His performance wasn't horrendous, but he consistently lets goals past him that good goalies would save.
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The only thing that I can hope for, moving foward to next week, is that RH puts pressure on the lads so that they know that they are playing for their position. I think that may have been the problem with leaving the substitutions so late, no one felt any urgency as they wern't feeling threatened. It might be worth while to make a notible change, like for instance to start el capitan on the bench, just to give them a shake up and make a statement to them, 'you are all accountable for the way you play, individually and as a team'. Secondly I think people are being a little harsh regarding daniel and diego. They came on late in the proceedings, and they did try hard. However by that time many of the nix had dropped their heads and the balls being fed to them wern't as great as they could have been. And finally, why was diego on the wing??? Why oh why was he put on the wing?...
S.O.N2009-08-09 23:01:30
S.O.N2009-08-09 23:01:30
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well our new arrivals have had their baptism in Australia. They have an idea of what is required over there now. And now for their home debuts! Cool! Lonegunmen2009-08-09 23:25:59
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
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I think Newcastle were a lot better than a lot of fans were expecting they would be. They played some nice passing Football. They weren't that much better than us - it was close. But I read a lot (here) saying how pants they'd be. I suppose it's usual A-League - hard to predict, pretty even.
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For goodness sakes, Paston is a good Goalie.
The difference at the level he is playing at compared to the level that everyone else seems to claim their experience from in this forum is simply the speed of the situation is much faster as the attack is technically sound.
If the defensive block is lacking as it was in this game, you can be the best goalkeeper in the world but you are always reacting to the attacking initiative and so are always on the back foot trying to perform a miracle when the attack isn't sound enough to beat you on that angle, that speed and that position. The problem was that the attack was sound enough that he had to pick the ball from the net.
The difference at the level he is playing at compared to the level that everyone else seems to claim their experience from in this forum is simply the speed of the situation is much faster as the attack is technically sound.
If the defensive block is lacking as it was in this game, you can be the best goalkeeper in the world but you are always reacting to the attacking initiative and so are always on the back foot trying to perform a miracle when the attack isn't sound enough to beat you on that angle, that speed and that position. The problem was that the attack was sound enough that he had to pick the ball from the net.
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Ballane, a word of adive DON"T you EVER question my loyalty to the Wellington Phoenix.
Fair enough you sound as if you have the phoenix syndrome as bad as i have.My wife hates the fact i spent money to get the number plate.Its just i hate no matter how bad your team has played talk of burning the shirt.Just remember Backbencher for a pint or four before that game.I have supported the Kingz, Knights and Phoenix with all my heart.
I sit on the other side of the Tasman and wear my Phoenix gear around Perth with great pride.
I saved up for 6 months to go over to the Central Coast to watch MY team.
I will be at the Ring of Fire to watch my first Phoenix home game against North Queensland.
My wife said I'm crazy for supporting the Phoenix.
Work mates call me a sheep shagging Kiwi supporting a sh*t team.
Robbie Slater through Fox Sports tells me every week that my TEAM the Wellington Phoenix should not be in the A-League.
If I WANT to burn my shirt I bloody well will,( not that I would, as it cost too much).
It was an expression of how I was feeling at the time.
I Love this club.
I take my hat off to YF for having a site that WE all can express what we want to say before or after a Phoenix game.
Ricki Herbert said that the Phoenix were going to play exciting open fooball. That didn't happen.
So to all of you on this site my loyalty to the owner, players, backroom staff and supporters of this club has not changed. "Phoenix to I Die!!!!"
GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS
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For goodness sakes, Paston is a good Goalie.
The difference at the level he is playing at compared to the level that everyone else seems to claim their experience from in this forum is simply the speed of the situation is much faster as the attack is technically sound.
If the defensive block is lacking as it was in this game, you can be the best goalkeeper in the world but you are always reacting to the attacking initiative and so are always on the back foot trying to perform a miracle when the attack isn't sound enough to beat you on that angle, that speed and that position. The problem was that the attack was sound enough that he had to pick the ball from the net.
The difference at the level he is playing at compared to the level that everyone else seems to claim their experience from in this forum is simply the speed of the situation is much faster as the attack is technically sound.
If the defensive block is lacking as it was in this game, you can be the best goalkeeper in the world but you are always reacting to the attacking initiative and so are always on the back foot trying to perform a miracle when the attack isn't sound enough to beat you on that angle, that speed and that position. The problem was that the attack was sound enough that he had to pick the ball from the net.
I say his defensive block is maybe OK, but he's terrible at coming off his line. (as he's showed many times before for the Phoenix). No wonder Herbert didn't want to play him at the Confeds even though he's the goalie who has to try and save our way to the world cup.
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I'm still upset with the result but I have to say... if it had finished 2-2 I would have been happy and raving about how much fight the guys had to come from 2-0 down. I still think our defence was shocking (no doubt about it), but we did score two goals from open play and that is promising. We also tried to play an attacking brand of football, and although it didn't come off, it will be good to watch if they continue striving for that for the rest of the season (just need our defence to tighten up).
As for those criticising Paston, I think it's uncalled for. I did think he should have dived forward and put his body on the line more for that first goal, but even if he had I still think chances are that Hoffman would probably have managed to put it over him. If anybody was going to be a scapegoat for that loss, it would be Durante, but I think Sigmund was equally to blame for at least one or two of those goals. McKain (one of my favourite players) also had an uncharacteristically bad match tonight.
jamesnz2009-08-09 23:36:19
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Fair enough you sound as if you have the phoenix syndrome as bad as i have.My wife hates the fact i spent money to get the number plate.Its just i hate no matter how bad your team has played talk of burning the shirt.Just remember Backbencher for a pint or four before that game.
I promise not to use that expression again.
Look forward to catching up with you at the Backbencher for the NQF game.
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jamesnz - yea, I agree. Obviously a lot more negativity has set in because of their late goal. We played more attacking than we did away from home last year mostly, which I was pleased about. The central defenders were worse than Paston. Definately. I suppose I blame Paston more because I suspect he'll keep doing similar, but I think the defenders are better than that. Still horrible to see them leave so much space. There was another couple of goals they could've scored through the space left. How about when the dude was on the edge of the six yard box shooting with no defender around him??!!! ARRGHGHGH
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Thought that they deserved the win more than us, though a draw wouldn't have been unfair. Our defence was hideous at times. I was worried about Paston before the game and my fears were confirmed. Moss would have saved at least one of the first two goals, and there was another time that Paston was hopelessly lost coming off his line. We'll continue to lose cheap goals with him keeping.
He couldn't have done anything more for the first goal. If he stayed on his line Hoffman could have take 2 or 3 touches before shooting. At least by coming out he closed down the angle and made Hoffman shoot first time.
He couldn't have done anything more for the first goal. If he stayed on his line Hoffman could have take 2 or 3 touches before shooting. At least by coming out he closed down the angle and made Hoffman shoot first time.
Disagree completely. Paston should have come out faster (not necassarily earlier, but faster) and he should have gone in with confidence. He didn't appear to have gone into it with all his heart at all.
Very disappointed with this game. When we were two goals down I couldn't believe it and was starting to think that maybe the Aussie bookies were correct.
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With the second goal, Paston can't take all the blame. Jin-Hyung Son was given waaaay too much space and the defenders had to shut him down. Yes it was a poor spill, but if the defenders had done their job he never would've had to make a save. Awful defending all night.
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I think that (contrary to what most have said) Diego actually looked really good when he got the ball. He ran through the middle of the midfield and attempted to play a ball onto the strikers. Although he didnt create a goal, I think that if he was given more time on the field he could really make an impact on the team.
This I have to agree with. Those rating Diego poorly for this game need their head read. He gets 12 mins at the end, not at CAM but wide and with only one striker to play forward to. But still look sharp playing balls in.
Absolutely must play next week as creative centre midfielder. With Hearfield doing OK, Bertos looking a real threat, Greenacre making himself more than a nuisance in the box, and Ifill having the potential to progress with a game under the belt, then the front half of the field has real potential.
But if we play Brown and McKain together again, then it's defensive BS football and I can't see the club attracting more supporters, season members or walk up home crowds. Ricki, it's the beautiful game, not an unimaginative bore fest.
As for the D. Jeeze, all over the shop. Both CBs caught miles up the park for two of the goals. McKain to CB, Brown to DM?
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