Nix v WS Wanderers Sun 13th 4.30pm

I do think that if the season is 'over' in terms of the play offs, then Boxall, Hogg and Lindsay should be played to up their game time/experience and see if they are worth keeping for next year (Obvious Boxall is already). It would be pointless to keep trotting out Lia, Sigmund and Lochhead in that instance..

We need a decent ball playing midfielder in the mould of Broich if the new style of play is going to work. The current midfielders are not good enough on the ball. Until then we will struggle each week.

Today  ...I hate football....  

I was shaking my head at how far behind the play Lia was all game. Really poor; doesn't have what it takes at this level anymore.

Lia very inconsistent though, some games he is better. 

Obviously not in the upper echelon of A-League players, but on a good day he can hold his own. Its just he has quite a few bad days

Can't see any new coach of any quality coming in with Herbert lurking around at DOF. Whoever it is needs to be networked enough to import 2 quality midfield players - cause while we're the biggest load of shite right now - that's all that's actually needed "if we're to play like Holland did once." (whichever footballer person who advised the owners mid season that this total football thing was a goer with our direct football midfield should be shot)

Ifill and Sanchez to stay if fit etc plus Stein - plus the Manny of old.

We're more than good enough everywhere else with our Kiwi boys. The Keepers .. Bertos doing a good job at rb .. Boxall/Sigmund and Durante .. Hogg/Lockhead .. Boyd, Fenton  - Brockie - plus the other squad NZers - plus academy coming thru.

No Smith No Totori.

Most internationally connected person in NZ, who's coached this level before is Rufer.      

Was disappointed with our performance yesterday. I thought we set up wrong, first half it worked ok because Stein seemed to drop deeper to  receive the ball and pressure the WSW midfielders while in the second half both forwards stayed high up the pitch giving WSW numerical advantage in midfield, making it hard for us to play out (they could press us with a man spare and follow the midfield rotations deep) and when we pressed we again lacked the numbers in midfield, if our forwards and wingers pressed onto the WSW defence and our midfielders pressed we would normally be leaving one free WSW midfielder free, a lot of the time a player free in the whole between midfield and defence.

In that regard the changes Ricki made did not help us get more in the game, he didn't make any tactical changes just straight swaps for fresh legs. I would have like to have seen either Brockie or Stein coming off for Smith, even though Lia had probably his worst game this season, to give us numerical parity in midfield and help us play out and our pressing defence. 

Also, individual performances in that second half were poor and noticeably see heads drop after conceding, arguably the lowest I have seen the team - morale/confidence must be really shaky and turning things around seems along way away. Not convinced with Cam Lindsay so far.

And to add, nice save from Paston but his lack of skill with the ball at his feet is making it so hard for us to play out. He does not suite the new style of play and thought he lost his confidence with that mix up in the first half trying to play out. From then on he was very reluctant to play short and hit a lot of long balls.

Our chances... of winning free Sony gear - pretty good.

highlight of the match.....cross bar challange.....

 Didnt Stein win that ??

Sony yet so far, would have been goal of the season

Sanchez was equally to blame. When your two most experienced midfielders keep giving away the ball under no pressure you've got no hope of building an attack and huge pressure is put on the defence. It was shockingly amateurish stuff.

And to think I was laughing at how pathetically Roar surrendered in their game on Saturday.

 ...and Manny has hardly been an exception recently either.  For me it's where it is going wrong. 

We just don't keep possession in midfield no matter who plays there.

How do footballers that make a living as professionals and are serviceable (lets give some credit - Lia, Manny and Sanchez would make other A League squads) turn into rank footballers?

I mentioned this against the Heart that a lot of our players have poor body position when receiving the ball and can't see the next option, or the defender up their blind side. I've yet to see anything that changes my mind.

Some people will blame it all on Ricki ignoring that under Ricki Manny went from being a State League player to being one of the first names on the teamheet for a side that repeatedly made A-League finals.

He's out of form and if someone can find the magic forumla to change that they would make themselves the worlds richest man (or woman).

Put Manny back into RB, and tell him he can go back into the Mid when he proves his hunger again.

Sorry to bring cricket into it but I think the same thing is happening with the blackcaps as well. Their best player at the moment is Watling and he said this morning that he was enjoying himself even though the S.A bowlers can make you not want to be there.

Like I said it may seem like an old cliche or one of those 'crazy sports psych theories' but I believe in it. I think if they want to turn it round they need to try and change the way they are approaching their game in this aspect. Easier said than done though, of course.

The players need to jump on board the Posi-Machine!!

I think, we as fans failed as well. I thought it was pretty quiet yesterday, first half was OKish, but when the players needed us most, push them forward to fight, we pretty much sucked big time.

"Yellow Fever"..... definately not man of the match yesterday....poor, poor display !!!

Does this team respond to crowds push?

Look how long it took Ange to change a forward playing, fast passing team into a possession based team at M V

Look at what happened when Roar lost its style they are still not back but don't have the travel woes.

I think he's not out of form he's being asked to do something he's not comfortable with (effectively be a playmaker) and it's affecting the rest of his game.  I think also we may have all said how underrated he was so often that he has become overrated amongst our fans.  He's great at getting the ball back but he looks lost once he has it

I switched off at half time to cook some delicious wild venison steaks on the bbq.

What happened?

(NB: The venison deserves MoM from me!!!)

It was a game of two halves.

All credit to the opposition.

Football is a funny game - you can't switch off for a moment.

One side wanted it more badly than the other.