Nix vs Heart, Dunedin, 3rd March 4.30pm SS1

First time for a long time, we played with Heart....

Been watching the V8's over the football - Good on the boys today a much needed effort and result!

 Okay, my half-time call was almost accurate, so I am not sure why I got dumped on. But then I'm not sure why I get dumped on half the time around here. Usually it's just having an unpopular opinion.

Anyway, that was at least a glimmer of... something. Such a pity we'll miss Stein for the next game. He and Corey were the big movers today. But Leo also looked so happy to be back in midfield. Manny also did well.

3 points well deserved on a good performance from the entire team. No one played poorly and there are a few candidates for man of the match.

Well played lads, well played. Today, you deserve plaudits.

(wondering if Steve-O will appear...)

I'm not falling for that.

Heart were rubbish but that was a fantastic effort from the Nix. Probably the most convincing of wins since round 1.

 But our second half was not nearly as good as our first! We just about pissed away that well-deserved lead from the first half! If that's negativity, then slap a cat on my head and call me Steve-O.

Good result.  Team played well today,  showed fight which has been missing for some time.

 I suppose I whinge when I see something the majority don't and I get dumped on for it. But I will certainly admit that I do endeavour to be right, and I'm annoyed when I'm not, but that doesn't stop me trying, and it doesn't stop me refraining from saying my piece just when I know that others here don't want to hear it.

Anyway, my whole point at half-time was that our passing was good, but not quite good enough yet for this game that we're trying to play. We were getting the better of MH through sheer athleticism. Also, the consensus seems to be that the momentum was lost when Gameiro was subbed... do we think KFC Carlos can do a similar job?

Well today you are wrong. Fucking get over it.

so happy for Greenie! first win as da boss

 I was not wrong! Our passing wasn't good enough for when we got tired, and the Heart were -> <- close to equalising! You're right that Mossy had barely nothing to do... until the last ten minutes or so, when he had to make some excellent catches.

Problem is, it's not rocket science to say if we don't score another one they might come back and steal something. Everybody KNOWS that.

We were never going to be able to keep up the energy and tempo that we had in the 1st half, and the Heart were always going to come back at us. We played 3 games in a week and the changes in shape meant that keeping the standards of the 1st half was going to be a huge ask.

Instead of enjoying the fact that we looked like a football team for the 1st time in a long time, you decided to concentrate on focussing on your opinion that we were going to let them score, then carried on telling about your "half time prediction" throughout the 2nd half. Almost gloating that in some way you had predicted that the Heart would have their moments in the 2nd 45.

For what it's worth I never felt that the Heart actually threatened us that much

Very happy with Lia's performance tbh. Did a lot of work and some really great passes (yes i know he missed some)

And covered the defence well

Lia's performance was ok, primarily cos he didn't do anything wrong or hand the ball over in a goal scoring position

Agree with this

I wonder if its possible to get #sacknoone trending.

There was not one player out there that played poorly. Lochhead, Bertos and Ifill looked like players that turned back their clocks to wheel out good performances. I think you could argue MOM for Ifill, Stein, Gamiero, Bertos, Lochhead and Lia depending on your view.

I think I can see where the problem is.

Most of the team played very well most of the time. I think greenie decided to give it a go, after all he's got nothing to lose.

The team stepped up.

However heart were not in it at all...

Shame it's all too late this season..

So we can play a passing game... who would have thought it? Really liked the way we were set up today, with Gamiero almost as a false 9 and Brockie and Stein drifting wide.

Also, today showed exactly why Moss > Paston for me. Shot-stopping wise Paston probably shades it but Moss's distribution and ability to actually catch the ball rather than parrying or punching just make the defenders that more confident both when we have the ball and when we don't

 Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits.

I must admit when I posted it, I was like 'Hmmm I wonder if people will get that'

Wow. That actually was the best football we have played all year. Even lia had a good game. Greenacre actually got them to be patient and wait for the right time to put the ball in the box. Like our tactics with the corners, can't believe heart let us do it nearly every time. 

Second half wasn't as strong but still not terrible. Sorry doloras but your predictions of doom and gloom once Herbert is gone aren't looking that great.

Tactically a number of changes (how good was it seeing leo a bit further forward and manny at right back). And the way we played shows what the potential stein has, to bad he didn't put those chances away.

I'm sure the stats will show our highest number of passes put together out of any game this year

Most of this has been mentioned but this is the best effort for such a long time. Only one nil but should have been more.

Bertos was MOM for me and I cannot ever remember Tony L having a better game.

As I mentioned earlier the moving of Bertos / Muscat  was the key.

Lets hope there is more to come. Silly  first yellow for Stein  and a stupid high tackle towards the end. However he proved to all that he more than deserves to start.

The best part about that was seeing Paul Ifill with a smile on his face as he greeted the supporters after the game. It's been far too long since we've seen him smile.