Nix v WSW Sunday 4:30pm + ASB Prem Curtain Raiser + 10 millionth fan

The possibility of the 10 millionth fan  going through the gates at this game v the Unicorns.   Curtain raiser between Youngheart Manuatu and Waikato FC.   Should be a good day at the RoF

I would put Waffles back into the starting XI.  Drop Fenton to the bench.  Hope Totori is going to be ready for this game.  I have a feeling he could get his first goal for the Nix.  Brockie better not have left his goal scoring boots in Perth. 

Weather we need you to play your part.  COYN!

And got this in my email from Shiticketek

 Fock yeah cant wait, already feels like too long since they last played at home. ASB prem a bonus too

I feel a Prediction coming on........

Whilst the Nix have been away, we have had great weather. Odds on it being wet & miserable?

How far away is Sanchez? And if he is fit, does he get in the team? I'd love to see him get a go in the middle of the park as when he was actually used in that role last year we were very good. If he was going to play you would have to fit him in a 4-2-3-1 with Manny and Smith/Lia sitting in front of back four and then Ifill/Sanchez/Brockie feeding Waffles?

Given how much better we have been with the three more defensive guys in the midfield this may be a step back but would be interesting to see if we could pull it off.

surely you stick with the 4-3-3 that;'s been working in the away games.

same back four as always. Manny, Smith, Lia/Sanchez/Fenton in the middle and Ifill/Brockie/Stein up front.

The Cornies have a very good away record - however I think we can do the business. To be honest I'd like to see Ifill starting from the bench as he hasn't been effective so far. I think perhaps 90' might be too much for him right now, and I could see him do well if he came on early in the 2nd half when legs are starting to tire..

Ideally I'd go like this:

                                         Pasty

          Loe      SeaMonster   Dura     BadTouchLocky

                                Lia          Moosecat

          Fenton              Smith      Brockie

                                   Waffles

Please don't think I'm being unkind to Ifill - I actually think we are not utilizing him well at the moment. Why ask someone who isn't 100% fit to run up and down the flanks for 90' when you could chuck him in during the 2nd half and he could do some damage?

Nah he needs to start, hes been providing good service up front, and good cover dropping back. Hes covering good ground every week and being back at home we could see him on the score sheet again soon. With Sanchez still injured and Stein recovering, i dont see it being wise to bench Ifill.

I agree that ifill shouldnt be covering that amount of ground. 

Also wont surprise me if we go back to a 4132 ish formation. 

Drop Fenton for Waffles if we keep the same formation, although i'd rather we revert to a more attacking system.

Need more Manny... is been out played by Lia at the moment, which is surprising.

There is now a ladies lounge...

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/wellingtonphoenix/news-display/Ladies-Lounge-For-Western-Sydney-Match/53903 

Ladies, leave the boys at the gate and come up to our Ladies Lounge where you will be greeted with some special treats to enjoy during the Phoenix v Western Sydney Wanderers game this Sunday.

Trudi from Wardrobe Flair will be there with tips to help you dress for every occasion – from day to evening, Christmas and New Year. Wardrobe Flair is a Style and Colour Image Consultancy, and will be there to help you develop a wardrobe that suits your body shape, budget and lifestyle.

There will be canapés served and refreshments available at your own bar in the lounge plus some extra special treats.

Come along and pamper yourself and prepare for the silly season while catching some of the game, Sunday 2 December, 4.30pm kick off.
Tickets are an extremely affordable $35 available from Ticketek. Option to upgrade to the lounge if you already have a ticket.

Buy tickets here

Hard to get a fix on where we are right now. If we take 4 points from every 2 away games, we win the League. So can't complain. Our midfields been hard to break down now Lia's back, and that's the way it has to be to get any reward away from home. Fenton's reminding me a bit in the last few games of Barbarouses running round like a headless chook when he was with us. But great energy and some pace. Not sure if he's that sure what his role is - seems to lack confidence at the mo. But back at home it should be different. No problem with Ifill starting. I honestly have no idea what his role is, apart from obviously being a roaming figure.  

However will be very disappointed if we don't come out to bury this next home game convincingly. Early days, and one of our better starts, but still can't forget how we were all over the Roar in that home game for the first 25 mins, then sat back to allowed them to play. Herbert totally misread that, as it's proven now, they are there to be had. As they were then. That's why Wellington fans (floaters) are so fickle right now.

Where's that forecast from? 

Says wind rain and Phoenix here. 

http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/wellington/wellington-city

Tipping a 3-0 victory - can we please see Cameron Lindsay on the bench (just once!)

My preferred ideal line-up (this week and any other week, fitness permitting) would be;

                     Paston

Bertos-Sigmund-Durante-Lochead

                Muscat-Smith

           Brockie-Sanchez-Ifill

                 Huysegems

Bench: Moss, Lia, Fenton, Totori

Only two tough decisions in there: Lia or Smith in midfield, and Boyd or Totori for the last bench spot

A lot of people make comments like "when ifill is fully fit". How long will that go on?

He is fully fit.

His fully fit just isn't that fit...

He's a top-heavy lad with a bit of a lumbering running style and he just never looks fit. He's not much of a trainer apparently, he aint guna start running marathons and transform his body shape any time soon, this is just who he is. Some coaches probably wouldn't have a bar of it, and would demand more, but when he brings this much to the team and also has the guts to track back like he does, there's no arguments from me.

I don't think the question is over his physical fitness but his health. Ifill was only truly healthy in his first season here, and has had quite a few injury worries subsequently, including the pre-season this year. He's also had quite a few injuries prior to his arrival here, and with this history and his age he's really unlikely to ever be the player he was in his first season here.

Having said that, a half-crook Ifill is still a quality player in this league, but I do think we need to use him more intelligently.

Agreed on the most part, but it should be noted that physical fitness naturally brings health.

It's not a good sign if you play with a dodgy hamstring week after week - in most cases it's either broke and needs rest/fixing, or you just aint a fit guy and it niggles away at you. 

Don't think it's that simple, once you have structural damage the healing process may never be complete even with treatment, and the older you are the longer the healing process. Add into that the build-up of scar tissue around the injury site and the real possibility of re-injury (I think I read somewhere once that around three-quarters of sports injuries are simply re-injuries) and physical fitness isn't something that can help you out a great deal in such situations.

i like this line up..but  think i would like to see Moss in goal at this time mainly due to Paston seeming a bit tired (probably through all the travelling with the all whites) might do him good to have a week or two off

My first 3 years or so of 5-a-side gave me numerous calf strains, quad strains, sore hammies, and all sorts of little niggles. None of which were 're-injuries'. 

Then I lost some weight and got fitter (not necessarily fit, just less un-fit). The next 2 years of 5-a-side were completely injury free (and 're-injury' free) despite playing more and running more.

I wouldn't suggest that Ifill was the picture of health in his first season either. He seems to constantly hobble between plays, he's clearly just not a fit kinda guy. Ricki said he's the worst trainer he's seen, that is very telling.

I see what you're saying and agree there's merit in it, but Ifill is not very fit and probably never has been - you can't honestly say that wouldn't have any impact on his body. 

looking fwd to return of Sanchez at some point soonish

and that line up a few posts back would work - at home

I wonder how Ricki can get the "attacking" best out of an 'aging' Ifill ?

despite the crap deal we seem to have signed with the Met Service this season, a good win this wknd might lead to a good turn out for the other 2 pre-xmas matches

CMON U NIX!!!