Nix v NQF - Friday 15th

Nix v NQF - Friday 15th

Can't wait for another home game, perfect tonic for the end of the first week back at work.

I want Siggy back for McKain. And Manny back to RB. Midfield down look good however, but is it limited having Ifill as a RM? Or do you think he'll still have the freedom to work in and around the strikers? 

After match bar tab at the 4Kings this week.

Thanks bigdunc!

Solid!

Whitby boy2010-01-10 15:59:38

Agree with your line up. It's tough on Manny but I don't think he can play next to just Brown.

Ifill and Daniel will have the freedom to roam, they usually do....

Greenacre works hard enough that it doesn't matter if Ifill doesn't defend or track back a lot (thoug he does do it anyway)

Will Daniel be fit for selection? Anyone know how serious his injury is?

darkhorse2010-01-10 17:45:56

Doctor only said he couldnt play this week. So he should be fit for next week. Will be tough to break into the team atm though.

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win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win win WIN!

the nix have a good run home, and i think that this game will be very important to where we finish, although theoretically we could afford a draw. i think we really need to come home with 3 points from this one

hard decisions for RH, but i think muscat deserves to keep his spot, but ii'd love to see greenie with dadi, that would be great,
should be a good game, we have a great team, but as shown in this game, we need to just make sure we dont get hit on the counter

Give Ifill a rest, they were suggesting he's got a minor hamstring niggle, no need to do any more damage than necessary. We'll need him come playoffs.

Also for anyone planning to head to this game who wasnt there last night against the Roar, try get tickets before the day... it was an absolute zoo with massive queues at all the booths 5mins before kick off. We only got in on time as a group of random supporters approached us with a couple of extra tickets that we picked up for a tenner each. Which was much appreciated btw in case youre reading this!!!

Cheers for that

if greenacre is fit i guess ricki will play him and bopman's team is the best.

if greenacre is not quite fit, he shouldn't be in the squad at all. there's no point having him on the bench as he's not an impact player at all.

i hope he plays and forms a good partnership with dadi and shows what he's capable of next to another forward. i still don't think he's actually that good though (cue: 'he runs all day', 'off the ball work') and do worry if our midfield can manage going back to 4-4-2 (brown doesn't really defend anymore.. he tries to be fat frank and just lurks in the opposition half).

lia must start in midfield. as noted elsewhere he's the only one who can actually pass. he needs to remember not to give away free kicks in stupid areas and get caught with the ball, though.

Come on mate spit it out! Say what you really mean.

A draw just wont cut it. Out of those 10 draws this season, we couldve lost 7 of those games and won 3 and effectively still be in the same spot we are now. A draw is basically worthless and we cant afford any more of them. The league is way too tight and its crucial we pull away. Its already looking as though Newcastle have taken 4th spot on the table (currently 3-1 in the 83rd as i post this)

As for people saying Dadi and Greenacre together, im not so sure. I really think Ricki should stick with what he knows, its getting a little too late in the season to gamble. And Greenacres been out for so long, its always hard to come back at 100% from being injured for as long as he has. Id be happy to see the squad unchanged, maybe throw Siggy or Daniel into the mix.

The important thing is for everyone to not get too carried away thinking NQF will be an easy win.
AJ132010-01-10 20:49:14

Important game for us.

Team-wise, I say stick with the status quo, except bring Greenacre (if fit) onto the bench over Diego in the only change to the match-day squad. Let's ease Greenie back into match fitness.

Ricki has always been quite conservative in his selections and he rarely changes a winning team. The only change he made for the Roar game was to replace Caceras with Dadi.....that was a spectacular success. We played some nice football and won for the first time against our bogey team.

So is there anymore info on Ifill and a possible strain?

It's great that we've got three forwards to choose from. Don't care who starts because they're all good - just hope we have all three good for Friday.

To refresh memories we have had two 1-1- draws with NQF. Time to change that.

Yeah I remember that drawn match. Nix was so unlucky not to walk away with a win. In saying that. Lets whip there asses and send them home with there tail between there legs.

Ifill was rubbing his hammy about ten minutes after kick off on Sat.

Bags packed, fly out on Monday.

Both drawn matches we lead throughout and then they scored late. The home one, was the 94th minute in 3 minutes of extra time. Most frustrating game. I hope we thrash them with a 10k crowd.

I'm really excited for this one will be my first home game since Melbourne

Excited by the prospect of Greeny and Dadi up front. I got the impression they'd played together before at TR. Hope so as that would mean they won't take as long to gel as a new partnership. I wonder if Greenacre had a quiet word in Ricki's ear to sign Dadi.

This week has to be a must win for us. With the teams in pos 7-9 all having played 1 more game, a win on Friday effectively puts us 5 points clear of 7th place with 5 to go and looking good.

Ifill and Leo both looked a little tired at times last night. When Daniel is fit it might be a good idea to give one of them a rest (not this week of course). Remember how much better Leo was after a week off.

i wasn't so sure about dropping manny after such a good performance, but I think its probab;y the right call. He can go to the bench and can fill in for Lia/Brown/ Hearfield if any of them get another yellow.

Daniel coming in makes it tricky too. For me he should make the bench.

If Greenacre can't start, then I'd put him on the bench instead of Sigmund tbh and Daniel there for Diego

Otherwise:
                Reddy
Hearfield McKain Durante Lochhead
              Lia       Brown
Bertos                            Ifill
             Dadi Greenacre

Bench:    Crowther   Muscat   Daniel   Caceres

Apart from Crowther, that looks to me like super subs. Impact players.

Jeff Vader2010-01-11 09:50:15

I reckon we drop Lia to the bench if we are bring in Greenacre, because Muscat has been playing super at that holding mid. Ricki will be loving having this problem. But i think we should put Greenacre on the bench and play the same team.

Interesting to hear Andrew Dewhurst on Radio Sport last night Football hour urging a crowd of 15-20k against NQF

Big New coverage last night, front page of the Dom today.

The media are getting the news out there.  People must surely struggle to claim they don't know it's on.

He (Andrew Dewhurst) also added that if your a Phoenix supporter outside of wellington then book a flight where ever you are and support the team.

$25 per adult is a good price for a one-off game

I'd agree but these people are not big fans and it's harder convincing them to part with their money then actual fans.

 

Tell them to man up.