Wellington Phoenix Men

Nix vs CCM, 11th Nov 4:30pm (+ T'Dubs vs. Canterbury curtain raiser)

354 replies · 19,107 views
over 13 years ago

 Nix supporters have expectations that in reality we are not going to achieve.

The players we have are on their day competitive but don't reach the heights to play other teams off the park.

If we were picking 14 of the best players in this league, how many can we honestly say would be Nix players.

Apart from one player we have no pace, we don't have any creative midfield players and we play strikers that should be out wide and visa versa.

Have always been a Riki supporter but have to say that he must watch the same game as me and everyone else but  seems oblivious to the obvious.

If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid

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

It is unacceptable for Ricki to name the same Phoenix team for next week - It's time for change.

Clarke on the bench for Totori or Boyd

Sanchez on the bench for Lia or starting for Smith


And someone sign-up that pigeon on the pitch for the rest of the season!


 

Masters Grade aint no run in the park on a Saturday...

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over 13 years ago

Jeff Vader wrote:

I don't think we played badly. To be honest I thought it was not a bad game of football with very few chances. We never gave Matt Ryan anything to really think about and the problems at our end, we caused ourselves (the cross field bomb from Zwaanswijk, Paston messing around in front of goal etc) I don't think McBreen would have scored had Sigmund done his job.

 


Im going to have to stop you right there. Watch a replay of the goal, watch how heavy McBreens last touch was before he shot, and watch how slow Paston was to come off his line. The second McBreen let off that heavy touch, Paston shouldve been straight out of the gate to smother the ball. The fact that he waited and waited before stuttering out, and almost getting to the ball anyway, proves the point that he wouldve got their first if it werent for his indecision. Pastons slow reflexes and decision making are becoming a liability. Get Moss in goal.
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over 13 years ago · edited over 13 years ago · History

Just Nix wrote:

It is unacceptable for Ricki to name the same Phoenix team for next week -It's time for change.

Clarke on the bench for Totori or Boyd

Sanchez on the bench for Lia or starting for Smith

And someone sign-up that pigeon on the pitch for the rest of the season!

 

Grumpy old bastard alert

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over 13 years ago

AJ13 wrote:

Jeff Vader wrote:

I don't think we played badly. To be honest I thought it was not a bad game of football with very few chances. We never gave Matt Ryan anything to really think about and the problems at our end, we caused ourselves (the cross field bomb from Zwaanswijk, Paston messing around in front of goal etc) I don't think McBreen would have scored had Sigmund done his job.

 


Im going to have to stop you right there. Watch a replay of the goal, watch how heavy McBreens last touch was before he shot, and watch how slow Paston was to come off his line. The second McBreen let off that heavy touch, Paston shouldve been straight out of the gate to smother the ball. The fact that he waited and waited before stuttering out, and almost getting to the ball anyway, proves the point that he wouldve got their first if it werent for his indecision. Pastons slow reflexes and decision making are becoming a liability. Get Moss in goal.
Just to ask you a question, were you blaming Totori a couple of weeks back for the 2 goals?

Grumpy old bastard alert

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over 13 years ago

Jeff Vader wrote:

I don't think we played badly. To be honest I thought it was not a bad game of football with very few chances. We never gave Matt Ryan anything to really think about and the problems at our end, we caused ourselves (the cross field bomb from Zwaanswijk, Paston messing around in front of goal etc) I don't think McBreen would have scored had Sigmund done his job.

That being said, this football wont win many games. For all the strike power we tout, we did not provide too much in the attacking 3rd. I think its commonly agreed that Ifill is not the same player as we have seen previously and I think a quick 2 weeks off and conditioning to perhaps drop 5kgs may help him immensely. We are stuck with options we can't use (Pav, Pantellis, Sanchez) options we chose not to use (Lindsay) and options we should not use (Totori). I'm not convinced that Smith alone in that 'do it all' midfield role is the answer however the creativity has to come from somewhere. Do we inject Lia into there, push a Smith little further forward and drop one of the Ifill/Fenton/Brockie combo or perhaps drop Smith and ask Ifill to play that attacking role in a 4-5-1 combination? Oddly enough, I think the answer is actually Tim Brown whom is no longer with us however... In the absence of better options, this is going to be it for a little bit until Sanchez can give Ricki something else to think about.



Ok ok thats enuff Jeff,  i stop reading at the Tim Brown part. We already have Brockie playing his role. 

Blame it on Benji & have a break son.

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over 13 years ago

simon_hampton wrote:

Stein got subbed because of his ankle injury


Don't be silly.  Stein got subbed because Ricki Herbert has no idea what he is doing.  Hasn't watching the Phoenix good games in isolation while being inconspicuously absent when the played well shown you that?
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over 13 years ago

Crowd of 6,568 is this a worry...  I understand Heart only got 5K ... 

Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei

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over 13 years ago

Leggy wrote:
We should be  a bit worried cause we keep giving the ball away in our own third of the pitch.

Should have taken off Brockie.  It is a problem with BS as he just can't seem to help himself pulling at players shirts. One would have thought that he learnt his lesson a couple of weeks ago. For me Lockhead should have come across to McBreen instead of running parallel  with him towards the goal.TL's passing was woeful but dragging him was a very poor decision as it made it necessary to swap Leo and achieved nothing.


Yeh Brockie has put in a about 45 minutes of a shift this season- either shouldn't be starting or Ifill or Huysegems shouldn't be starting. Or Ifill needs a free role.

Brockie really didn't contribute anything out there that I can recall, from now on goals on count in wins or draws- I'm taking those two scored in a lost cause off him. Huysegems looked a little more spritely, but Ifill is slow, however is the best creative player on the park.

Why the f* did we go back to Leo and Lochy launching 'balls in the box' from wide? We looked the most dangerous attacking through the middle of the park I thought. The crosses were never from the byline, but early and often to no one.

Agree the sub was an unnecessary one- at least at Melbourne we tried something completely different when it wasn't working. 

In short the attack was uncoordinated, failing and went back to our worst tactics of the past. It seems we are a bigger threat with this team with the ball at our feet, I feel. We simply attacked very poorly with the resources at our disposable.

positives- Smith, Manny, Siggie.




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over 13 years ago

chuckywolf wrote:

Jeff Vader wrote:

I don't think we played badly. To be honest I thought it was not a bad game of football with very few chances. We never gave Matt Ryan anything to really think about and the problems at our end, we caused ourselves (the cross field bomb from Zwaanswijk, Paston messing around in front of goal etc) I don't think McBreen would have scored had Sigmund done his job.

That being said, this football wont win many games. For all the strike power we tout, we did not provide too much in the attacking 3rd. I think its commonly agreed that Ifill is not the same player as we have seen previously and I think a quick 2 weeks off and conditioning to perhaps drop 5kgs may help him immensely. We are stuck with options we can't use (Pav, Pantellis, Sanchez) options we chose not to use (Lindsay) and options we should not use (Totori). I'm not convinced that Smith alone in that 'do it all' midfield role is the answer however the creativity has to come from somewhere. Do we inject Lia into there, push a Smith little further forward and drop one of the Ifill/Fenton/Brockie combo or perhaps drop Smith and ask Ifill to play that attacking role in a 4-5-1 combination? Oddly enough, I think the answer is actually Tim Brown whom is no longer with us however... In the absence of better options, this is going to be it for a little bit until Sanchez can give Ricki something else to think about.



Ok ok thats enuff Jeff,  i stop reading at the Tim Brown part. We already have Brockie playing his role. 

Blame it on Benji & have a break son.


LOL - i.e. most of the post!


"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

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over 13 years ago

Midfielder wrote:

Crowd of 6,568 is this a worry...  I understand Heart only got 5K ... 



Yep just over 5k at Heart game on Fri - it was pelting rain & cold though.
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over 13 years ago · edited over 13 years ago · History

arnies wrote:

We were terrible all round. No positives for me.

I think Bertos played well. Our midfield was non-existent. Smith, Brockie, Ifill did nothing for the game. Manny was missing too.

Stein played well, and was probably one of the best on the ball. Why did Ricki take him off? No idea..

Crap attack, no inspiration. Crap tactics, crap subs, crap weather.

Good pidgeon.


Also how Paston keeps his spot is beyond me. He makes saves I'd expect any keeper in the league to make, but rarely makes saves that make me excited


That pidgeon was the highlight of the game, actually both games.

I think again the weather scuppered our chances for a good crowd.  Which is a shame, wasn't this one of the revenue sharing games?   

I don't like it when we lose the toss and have to play towards the fever end in the 1st half, 2nd game in a row we've had to.  


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over 13 years ago

first time ever that I've left before the team has come off


 

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over 13 years ago

Just Nix wrote:

It is unacceptable for Ricki to name the same Phoenix team for next week - It's time for change.

Clarke on the bench for Totori or Boyd
Sanchez on the bench for Lia or starting for Smith

 

And someone sign-up that pigeon on the pitch for the rest of the season!
 

Could Sanchez and Clarke be on the bench at same time..given former is injury cover for latter?  I consider Clarke should have had at least 45mins by now.

A small town in Europe........looking to bounce straight back up....well that aint going to happen

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over 13 years ago

tigers wrote:

first time ever that I've left before the team has come off


 



Wow, now I know we're in trouble!
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over 13 years ago · edited over 13 years ago · History

I like the idea of having firepower in reserve- either Brockie or Ifill on the bench.

I think Ifill should have a freer role to roam and do what he wants- either side and in behind the front line, which might suit a 433 more. I think we should try to play a little narrower a little more often. Or at least not accept the crosses in that Rose and co got all the time. 

I wouldn't mind Totori starting and then getting taken off.

Brockie needs an arse kicking and to turn up more often. He's not doing the Tim Brown role as he is not running kms in the midfield. 

Perhaps Brockie and Ifill to have a free role with Huysegems further forward? 4-3-2-1?

Boyd shouldn't be on the bench realistically, has done nothing.



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over 13 years ago

chuckywolf wrote:

Midfielder wrote:

Crowd of 6,568 is this a worry...  I understand Heart only got 5K ... 



Yep just over 5k at Heart game on Fri - it was pelting rain & cold though.


LOL. It was not exactly good football weather today-- 13 degrees.

If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid

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over 13 years ago

Our midfielders are failing to give our attacking outlets the ball in the right areas. We've got great wingers and strikers but they can't do shit without the ball or with the ball facing away from goal etc. Alex Smith and Manny Muscat don't possess the distribution skills to open up defenses and put our attackers in good positions. 

Fruglo on 15.01.2013 wrote:

Fuck this stupid game

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over 13 years ago

Boro4eva wrote:

Just Nix wrote:

It is unacceptable for Ricki to name the same Phoenix team for next week - It's time for change.

Clarke on the bench for Totori or Boyd
Sanchez on the bench for Lia or starting for Smith

 

And someone sign-up that pigeon on the pitch for the rest of the season!
 

Could Sanchez and Clarke be on the bench at same time..given former is injury cover for latter?  I consider Clarke should have had at least 45mins by now.




Hmm, drat someone has spotted the fatal flaw in my cunning plan....

Masters Grade aint no run in the park on a Saturday...

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

TopLeft07 wrote:

Our midfielders are failing to give our attacking outlets the ball in the right areas. We've got great wingers and strikers but they can't do shit without the ball or with the ball facing away from goal etc. Alex Smith and Manny Muscat don't possess the distribution skills to open up defenses and put our attackers in good positions. 

Smith is far too deep. More often than not he is getting the ball off the centre backs. If we are playing 4-1-3-2 it shouldn't it be Manny doing this job?

When he gets the ball he only has the option to pass it to the wings and with the lack of movement by players, it is just so easy to defend.
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over 13 years ago

tigers wrote:

first time ever that I've left before the team has come off


 

Ditto and have given up reading those who are trying to paint a positive picture.We were shit yet again and seem to lack any idea at most times.Like someone else said i dont care if it was Sydney but we havnt managed to even look  anything like the team that day.Ifill just dosnt seem to be a shadow of the player he was and as for a midfiels do we have one. 

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

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over 13 years ago

TopLeft07 wrote:

Our midfielders are failing to give our attacking outlets the ball in the right areas. We've got great wingers and strikers but they can't do shit without the ball or with the ball facing away from goal etc. Alex Smith and Manny Muscat don't possess the distribution skills to open up defenses and put our attackers in good positions. 



Who are the great wingers?

If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid

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

TopLeft07 wrote:

Our midfielders are failing to give our attacking outlets the ball in the right areas. We've got great wingers and strikers but they can't do shit without the ball or with the ball facing away from goal etc. Alex Smith and Manny Muscat don't possess the distribution skills to open up defenses and put our attackers in good positions. 


David Chote made a pertinent comment today in that a pass is often very dependent on striker movement.  He was miffed at one stage when some midfielder made another unsuccessful pass to Fenton (who was the only one making a run) because of the constant problem of our two strike men virtually stationary (and usually just 10 metres apart)...So basically, David Chote was saying "what is our midfield sposed to do?"  
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over 13 years ago

Leggy wrote:

TopLeft07 wrote:

Our midfielders are failing to give our attacking outlets the ball in the right areas. We've got great wingers and strikers but they can't do shit without the ball or with the ball facing away from goal etc. Alex Smith and Manny Muscat don't possess the distribution skills to open up defenses and put our attackers in good positions. 



Who are the great wingers?
Fenton has looked great when on the ball. Ifill is our best player 1 v 1.
Fruglo on 15.01.2013 wrote:

Fuck this stupid game

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over 13 years ago

True blue - it's not surprising the angst given this is the sixth season and we're heading for rock bottom already.

Time to bring in the young contingent, the seasoned professionals have had their day.

For me retain international stars like Huysegems, Fenton, Brockie, Sigmund, Durante, Muscat and replace the rest including Ifill, Lia, Lochhead, Bertos, Boxall, Totari......look to the future through the academy!

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over 13 years ago

Stevo wrote:

TopLeft07 wrote:

Our midfielders are failing to give our attacking outlets the ball in the right areas. We've got great wingers and strikers but they can't do shit without the ball or with the ball facing away from goal etc. Alex Smith and Manny Muscat don't possess the distribution skills to open up defenses and put our attackers in good positions. 


David Chote made a pertinent comment today in that a pass is often very dependent on striker movement.  He was miffed at one stage when some midfielder made another unsuccessful pass to Fenton (who was the only one making a run) because of the constant problem of our two strike men virtually stationary (and usually just 10 metres apart)...So basically, David Chote was saying "what is our midfield sposed to do?"  
Yep no doubt, think it's a bit of both really. There's no fluidity in attack. Which should be put down to coaching rather than the players probably but I still don't think our midfielders are going to do great things for us. 
Fruglo on 15.01.2013 wrote:

Fuck this stupid game

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over 13 years ago

TopLeft07 wrote:

Leggy wrote:

TopLeft07 wrote:

Our midfielders are failing to give our attacking outlets the ball in the right areas. We've got great wingers and strikers but they can't do shit without the ball or with the ball facing away from goal etc. Alex Smith and Manny Muscat don't possess the distribution skills to open up defenses and put our attackers in good positions. 



Who are the great wingers?
Fenton has looked great when on the ball. Ifill is our best player 1 v 1.


I agree with Fenton, but Ifill should not be playing out wide -- should be in the middle-- because wide players usually have pace and he does not.

If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid

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over 13 years ago

Again, Ifill is being forced to do too much defensive work back in our own half. It completely blunts his impact.

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over 13 years ago

Leggy wrote:

chuckywolf wrote:

Midfielder wrote:

Crowd of 6,568 is this a worry...  I understand Heart only got 5K ... 



Yep just over 5k at Heart game on Fri - it was pelting rain & cold though.


LOL. It was not exactly good football weather today-- 13 degrees.


Lets not pretend that the crowd was anything other than to do with the fact we lost our last 2 games and our last home game was just about as boring as todays. 13 degrees in Wellington is hardly cold.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe_B5CzbTJo - Caceres winning penalty v Perth - footage from the Fever Zone

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over 13 years ago

I don't disagree with the above comments re Ifill.

Fruglo on 15.01.2013 wrote:

Fuck this stupid game

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over 13 years ago

Stevo wrote:

TopLeft07 wrote:

Our midfielders are failing to give our attacking outlets the ball in the right areas. We've got great wingers and strikers but they can't do shit without the ball or with the ball facing away from goal etc. Alex Smith and Manny Muscat don't possess the distribution skills to open up defenses and put our attackers in good positions. 


David Chote made a pertinent comment today in that a pass is often very dependent on striker movement.  He was miffed at one stage when some midfielder made another unsuccessful pass to Fenton (who was the only one making a run) because of the constant problem of our two strike men virtually stationary (and usually just 10 metres apart)...So basically, David Chote was saying "what is our midfield sposed to do?"  

Agree somewhat with this too. Our players are like statues off the ball most of the time, no movement whatsoever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe_B5CzbTJo - Caceres winning penalty v Perth - footage from the Fever Zone

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over 13 years ago

Steve-O wrote:

Stevo wrote:

TopLeft07 wrote:

Our midfielders are failing to give our attacking outlets the ball in the right areas. We've got great wingers and strikers but they can't do shit without the ball or with the ball facing away from goal etc. Alex Smith and Manny Muscat don't possess the distribution skills to open up defenses and put our attackers in good positions. 


David Chote made a pertinent comment today in that a pass is often very dependent on striker movement.  He was miffed at one stage when some midfielder made another unsuccessful pass to Fenton (who was the only one making a run) because of the constant problem of our two strike men virtually stationary (and usually just 10 metres apart)...So basically, David Chote was saying "what is our midfield sposed to do?"  

Agree somewhat with this too. Our players are like statues off the ball most of the time, no movement whatsoever.


Perhaps they don't have football brains.

If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid

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over 13 years ago

Brockie and Heysegems just dont click....

A small town in Europe........looking to bounce straight back up....well that aint going to happen

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over 13 years ago

Steve-O wrote:

Leggy wrote:

chuckywolf wrote:

Midfielder wrote:

Crowd of 6,568 is this a worry...  I understand Heart only got 5K ... 



Yep just over 5k at Heart game on Fri - it was pelting rain & cold though.


LOL. It was not exactly good football weather today-- 13 degrees.


Lets not pretend that the crowd was anything other than to do with the fact we lost our last 2 games and our last home game was just about as boring as todays. 13 degrees in Wellington is hardly cold.

Agree - and whats more, if we lose 2 on the road, it will be worse than that. Owners should be real worried.

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over 13 years ago

I am unsure where Brockie is even supposed to be playing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe_B5CzbTJo - Caceres winning penalty v Perth - footage from the Fever Zone

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over 13 years ago

I'll be at next home game....but only because I bought a season pass this year...muggins.
Not a good time to market the 6 pack...

A small town in Europe........looking to bounce straight back up....well that aint going to happen

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over 13 years ago

Steve-O wrote:

I am unsure where Brockie is even supposed to be playing?

Front third?

A small town in Europe........looking to bounce straight back up....well that aint going to happen

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over 13 years ago

Steve-O wrote:

I am unsure where Brockie is even supposed to be playing?



I think he is meant to be playing up the middle, but would be much better out wide.
In about 71 games in the A league he has scored  18 goals-- not a great strike rate.

If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid

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over 13 years ago

At the moment he is just floating around doing nothing. Get him out on the right, or to the bench.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe_B5CzbTJo - Caceres winning penalty v Perth - footage from the Fever Zone

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over 13 years ago

Judging by what Ricki said in the press conference, don't expect any changes.

Fruglo on 15.01.2013 wrote:

Fuck this stupid game

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