Wellington Phoenix Men

Nix vs. Melbourne B Sat 10th 7:30pm

433 replies · 4,472 views
about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
zinidane wrote:
aitkenmike wrote:
zinidane wrote:


Funny old game football..innit?
 
By the tone of many of the posts you would think we were 3rd from bottom rather than third from top. However watching the team now does seem to lack the buzz we got when we finished 4th a few years ago. Yes, we are pleased we win away, yes, its great that we can boss most of the sides in the comp, yes our defense is outstanding. But if you were at the 4kings last night and heard the collective groans or saw the collective face into palms you know that something is not quite right. When your midfield can hardly string two passes together, when they  cough up the ball on such a regular basis, when another cross hits row Z you do start to question whats up.
 
Its fairly much the same team that had the great run to nearly make the final a few years ago. What is blatently obvious now that at least 4 or 5 of them are well past their use by date. We have quality in many positions...this quality will get us well into the final series. The failure to recruit and refresh the squad will ultimately mean we wont go all the way.
 
Ricki has had several opportuities to strenghten the squad....he has chosen not to. His blind loyalty to some of the older guys who are no longer up to it will cost us dearly in the long run.


Really. Is that when the owner had no money to buy players, or when the owners won't spend money to buy players?
 
Thats actually a myth. I have heard Gareth Morgan say on several occasions that if Ricki had wanted players Welnix would have supported him.


Unfortunately there doesn't/wasn't many kiwi or aussies uncontracted players floating around.
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
It's clear that the current squad will need to be overhauled somewhat in the coming 1-2 years.

Ricki has a contend-now approach with a team of seasoned professionals (with a few standouts) across the park. I think this is one of the main reasons why we got through the start of the season to be in a position where we are now.

As for people who say we don't deserve to be third, I would say that we have done well considering the playing resources at our disposal and our situation at the start of the season where we could barely field a full team. In a league with a salary cap in place, teams with a good core group and camaraderie that generally do better than others.

Our style of football is limited by what we have in playing stocks. That issue is another matter, but given what we had to work with, we've done well this season. Football is a funny game - you could be outplayed yet get a result - and it is this uncertainty that ensures you continue to follow your team every week.
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Watching the Nix at the moment is a bit like going to the in-laws for Christmas lunch - despite the fact it will be hard work and, at times, painful you do it because of the family connection and sense of duty. Whilst you're glad when it's over and you get out in one piece you know you'll be back next time because you live in hope maybe, just maybe, it might get better.
 
 
He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
alt view from same site, w/ Ricki quotes

this-a-way
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
tigers wrote:
alt view from same site, w/ Ricki quotes

this-a-way
No one put there name to writing this one?
 
Must wont to keep writing for A-League
Blew.22012-03-11 14:04:49

  Supporter For Ever - Keep The Faith - Foundation Member - Never Lets FAX Get In The Way Of A Good Yarn

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Whitby boy wrote:
Watching the Nix at the moment is a bit like going to the in-laws for Christmas lunch ...


I suppose you'd prefer it if we had a team full of young-guns playing one-touch football and were last on the table? I think the Beach want a word with you.

I am extremely happy that the Nix are having their best ever season results-wise, no matter how ugly. Who's with me?
Doloras2012-03-11 14:36:09

Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads



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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Doloras wrote:
Whitby boy wrote:
Watching the Nix at the moment is a bit like going to the in-laws for Christmas lunch ...


I suppose you'd prefer it if we had a team full of young-guns playing one-touch football and were last on the table? I think the Beach want a word with you.

I am extremely happy that the Nix are having their best ever season results-wise, no matter how ugly. Who's with me?


I am.

And also, I think there's a rustic charm to winning ugly. In this tiki-taka, Messi-worshipping, Barcaphile world we find ourselves in there's still something endearing about teams which defend their a**ses off and snatch goals on the break

People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I am always with you D.

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.


Phoenix fans. We have to win them over one fan at a time.

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I'm with you also. Like I have said before, in past season we would have given up after going 1-0 down. Even though we don't always play attractive football, we are picking up a constant stream of points.

Yellow Fever - Misery loves company

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Oh..alright then D. 



  Improving,,on the up, a work in progress from Italiano and the Nix. Bring on the bathroom bling in '24! COYN!

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Blew.2 wrote:
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/heart-phoenix-all-square/46072 Very one sided report as usual.


Looks fairly accurate to me, altho I didnt see what happened with Manny in the melee. They were all over us in the first half, didnt take their chances, we got a dodgy call on the penalty. We came back in the second, Ifill was the difference, I cant recall a decent shot otherwise.

Wheras the other summary is one sided (ours). Were the subs that inspired ?? We all knew Smith would come on and Pav. Didnt see much of Tsatt actually.

What a great tense game and a wonderful draw, I'm taking it 

(Means I am with D)
hepatitis2012-03-11 15:35:57
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Talofa from Samoa.

Congratulations on your upcoming victory over us. Will it be the first time you've beaten us on our home ground? I have a feeling it will be. kutgw, and may we play you into great form resulting in you blitzing the finals, and winning the dunnie seat.

All the best!

KP via Faleolo, Samoa.
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Doloras wrote:
Whitby boy wrote:
Watching the Nix at the moment is a bit like going to the in-laws for Christmas lunch ...


I suppose you'd prefer it if we had a team full of young-guns playing one-touch football and were last on the table? I think the Beach want a word with you.

I am extremely happy that the Nix are having their best ever season results-wise, no matter how ugly. Who's with me?
 
You suppose wrong, but you knew that didn't you ?
 
There might just be another option to playing ugly and winning / drawing or playing attractive and losing - ask the Roar supporters.
 
One day we might get there but in the meantime we are what we are - grafters + Ifill.
 
 
Whitby boy2012-03-11 16:19:58
He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
kiwi pie wrote:
Talofa from Samoa.Congratulations on your upcoming victory over us. Will it be the first time you've beaten us on our home ground? I have a feeling it will be. kutgw, and may we play you into great form resulting in you blitzing the finals, and winning the dunnie seat.All the best!KP via <span dir="ltr" ="pp-line-item pp-line-address"><span>Faleolo, Samoa.</span></span>



Yellow Fever - Misery loves company

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
kiwi pie wrote:
Talofa from Samoa.

Congratulations on your upcoming victory over us. Will it be the first time you've beaten us on our home ground? I have a feeling it will be. kutgw, and may we play you into great form resulting in you blitzing the finals, and winning the dunnie seat.

All the best!

KP via Faleolo, Samoa.

  K.P. fa'afetai  but complacency over the Victory has cost the Nix before.Will be a battle.

  Improving,,on the up, a work in progress from Italiano and the Nix. Bring on the bathroom bling in '24! COYN!

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Looking at the season overall its been a fantastic success. We have played some exciting football, especially those games over the  Xmas period, were we played about as good as you could ever wish. The Sydney?? game where Sanchez scored a brace and Daniel got 3 assists was fantastic...we also started to play bolder and with more innovation in the away games, which led to some great wins......however something has happened to our mindset. Daniel who was in red hot form got banished to the reserve bench and Sanchez sent to Siberia on the wing.
It was almost like Ricki freaked out because people were doing flair stuff he didn't get. Since then its been kind of siege mentallity. The side has gone back into their shell, Ricki has gone conservative on his tactics and selections. Rather than play as we were mid summer we have gone out conservatively and allowed other sides to dictate the flow of the games.
 
What is really frustating to me is we are a really good side, we have some outstanding players. We  have the potential to win the League this year...but it won't happen sitting back letting sides come at you. We need to back ourselves, to be bolder. We don't want to be sitting around watching two other teams play the final wondering...." if only we had gone at it harder at the end of the season"
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Reminiscent of the World Cup,n'est-ce pas?

                                                                        COYN    

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Doloras wrote:


Whitby boy wrote:


Watching the Nix at the moment is a bit like going to the in-laws for Christmas lunch ...
I suppose you'd prefer it if we had a team full of young-guns playing one-touch football and were last on the table? I think the Beach want a word with you.I am extremely happy that the Nix are having their best ever season results-wise, no matter how ugly. Who's with me?
good call D

  Supporter For Ever - Keep The Faith - Foundation Member - Never Lets FAX Get In The Way Of A Good Yarn

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Zinidane's posts are ridiculous, partly because they "blame Ricki" for everything, and partly because they ignore the fact that getting ten points from fifteen on the road would have been considered a massive success in any other season. It's like he's started from a fixed belief - Ricki is a weak, defensive coach who doesn't have what it takes for the Nix to succeed - and will interpret all evidence in accordance with that belief.

Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads



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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I'm sure he's great at Football Manager

Founder

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
zinidane wrote:


What is really frustating to me is we are a really good side, we have some outstanding players. We� have the potential to�win�the League this year...but it won't happen sitting back letting sides come at you. We need to back ourselves, to be bolder. We don't want to be sitting around watching two other teams play the final wondering...." if only we had gone at it harder at the end of the season"


Hmm, this seems a very optimistic view of the Nix reality to me.

I think we've done exceptionally well with the limited resources we have, and hope we can keep this going for a few more weeks. But eventually, if we get in the position to play against the real top teams in the league, I expect us to struggle mightily. But there's always hope that it may be different...
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Dam mobile postsBlew.22012-03-11 19:56:19

  Supporter For Ever - Keep The Faith - Foundation Member - Never Lets FAX Get In The Way Of A Good Yarn

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
who was the sky commentator last night?
 
it just occurred to me that all he did was commentate on what was going on on the pitch, and tried just to build excitement.
 
hats off to that man!
 
it was so nice not to have to put up with the normal patronising rubbish we get like "what they should do is...", "what they should have done is...", or "how good I was when i played".
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Jamie Harnwell I think, he is good
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
el grapadura wrote:


I think we've done exceptionally well with the limited resources we have, and hope we can keep this going for a few more weeks. But eventually, if we get in the position to play against the real top teams in the league, I expect us to struggle mightily. But there's always hope that it may be different...


Maybe the top one side. Honours are currently even (DWL) with the second top side.

Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads



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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
zinidane wrote:
......however something has happened to our mindset. Daniel who was in red hot form got banished to the reserve bench and Sanchez sent to Siberia on the wing.
 
 
I agree with you. I dont understand the lack of Daniel at all. And I dont understand what the hell sanchez is supposed to be doing out there, even now Daniel is injured.
 
But as others have said, the results have been fantastic, particularly when you consider the clubs situation at the start of the season.
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Commentators in the Glory game said we lead the second half table by one point over the purple thugs prior to their game.

How's my driving? - Whine here

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Doloras wrote:
Zinidane's posts are ridiculous, partly because they "blame Ricki" for everything, and partly because they ignore the fact that getting ten points from fifteen on the road would have been considered a massive success in any other season. It's like he's started from a fixed belief - Ricki is a weak, defensive coach who doesn't have what it takes for the Nix to succeed - and will interpret all evidence in accordance with that belief.
 
Unfortunately football is a 'blame game' and there isnt a place in the world where a teams performance is not attributed to their manager,be it successful or not. individuals aside, most teams play to the managers directions and so  consequently managers lives  or dies  by the success the team has. I think that its great that we have garnered the points we have and am very happy to be were we are even if we have played 'ugly', however the standard of the football we play has not improved much at all and we still constantly seem to string a few games together before team changes are made and then we are back to square one again, an example being Alex smith playing quite well gets dropped to allow vince lia back into the midfield and we get monstered. seemingly playing better when he was brought on as a substitute. I believe Ricki is a defensive coach and at times tactically naieve with plenty of room for improvement
paullt2012-03-12 09:13:27

" If you only have a hammer you tend to see every problem as a nail" - maslow

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
paullt wrote:
Doloras wrote:
Zinidane's posts are ridiculous, partly because they "blame Ricki" for everything, and partly because they ignore the fact that getting ten points from fifteen on the road would have been considered a massive success in any other season. It's like he's started from a fixed belief - Ricki is a weak, defensive coach who doesn't have what it takes for the Nix to succeed - and will interpret all evidence in accordance with that belief.
 
Unfortunately football is a 'blame game' and there isnt a place in the world where a teams performance is not attributed to their manager,be it successful or not. individuals aside, most teams play to the managers directions and so  consequently managers live or die by the success the team has. I think that its great that we have garnered the points we have and am very happy to be were we are even if we have played 'ugly', however the standard of the football we play has not improved much at all and we still constantly seem to string a few games together before team changes are made and then we are back to square one again, an example being Alex smith playing quite well gets dropped to allow vince lia back into the midfield and we get monstered. seemingly playing better when he was brought on as a substitute. I believe Ricki is a defensive coach and at times tactically naieve with plenty of room for improvement
have you not watched any of our away games in the first four seasons?

Founder

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Feverish wrote:
paullt wrote:
Doloras wrote:
Zinidane's posts are ridiculous, partly because they "blame Ricki" for everything, and partly because they ignore the fact that getting ten points from fifteen on the road would have been considered a massive success in any other season. It's like he's started from a fixed belief - Ricki is a weak, defensive coach who doesn't have what it takes for the Nix to succeed - and will interpret all evidence in accordance with that belief.
 
Unfortunately football is a 'blame game' and there isnt a place in the world where a teams performance is not attributed to their manager,be it successful or not. individuals aside, most teams play to the managers directions and so  consequently managers live or die by the success the team has. I think that its great that we have garnered the points we have and am very happy to be were we are even if we have played 'ugly', however the standard of the football we play has not improved much at all and we still constantly seem to string a few games together before team changes are made and then we are back to square one again, an example being Alex smith playing quite well gets dropped to allow vince lia back into the midfield and we get monstered. seemingly playing better when he was brought on as a substitute. I believe Ricki is a defensive coach and at times tactically naieve with plenty of room for improvement
have you not watched any of our away games in the first four seasons?
 
I have...and they have still been quite defensive and at times ugly to watch interspersed with the odd decent game

" If you only have a hammer you tend to see every problem as a nail" - maslow

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Doloras wrote:
Zinidane's posts are ridiculous, partly because they "blame Ricki" for everything, and partly because they ignore the fact that getting ten points from fifteen on the road would have been considered a massive success in any other season. It's like he's started from a fixed belief - Ricki is a weak, defensive coach who doesn't have what it takes for the Nix to succeed - and will interpret all evidence in accordance with that belief.
 
Bollocks!!!
 
I said "looking at the season overall its been a fantastic success, we have played some excellent football....."
 
What part of that don't you understand?
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
paullt wrote:
Feverish wrote:
paullt wrote:
Doloras wrote:
Zinidane's posts are ridiculous, partly because they "blame Ricki" for everything, and partly because they ignore the fact that getting ten points from fifteen on the road would have been considered a massive success in any other season. It's like he's started from a fixed belief - Ricki is a weak, defensive coach who doesn't have what it takes for the Nix to succeed - and will interpret all evidence in accordance with that belief.
 
Unfortunately football is a 'blame game' and there isnt a place in the world where a teams performance is not attributed to their manager,be it successful or not. individuals aside, most teams play to the managers directions and so  consequently managers live or die by the success the team has. I think that its great that we have garnered the points we have and am very happy to be were we are even if we have played 'ugly', however the standard of the football we play has not improved much at all and we still constantly seem to string a few games together before team changes are made and then we are back to square one again, an example being Alex smith playing quite well gets dropped to allow vince lia back into the midfield and we get monstered. seemingly playing better when he was brought on as a substitute. I believe Ricki is a defensive coach and at times tactically naieve with plenty of room for improvement
have you not watched any of our away games in the first four seasons?
 
I have...and they have still been quite defensive and at times ugly to watch interspersed with the odd decent game
yeah sorry - its just that some football followers equate performances to results to some degree.

Founder

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
to be honest desipte our poor finishing recored and the fact that this club started with the best striker the leagues ever seen and now we dont have one. im f**kin chuffed as hell! that we are in this situation, 3rd, tigharse defence, looking solid in away games.

yea for the most part its not overly pretty, but i love reading the scorelines after the match!

ricki does have his limits in coaching and tactics, bt i think this stage of the season we should be excited as f**k that we could get a home semi, rather than looking who in the team we should replace. there will be more than enough time for that in the off season!
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological. 
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
foolish182 wrote:
to be honest desipte our poor finishing recored and the fact that this club started with the best striker the leagues ever seen and now we dont have one. im f**kin chuffed as hell! that we are in this situation, 3rd, tigharse defence, looking solid in away games.

yea for the most part its not overly pretty, but i love reading the scorelines after the match!

ricki does have his limits in coaching and tactics, bt i think this stage of the season we should be excited as f**k that we could get a home semi, rather than looking who in the team we should replace. there will be more than enough time for that in the off season!


We're actually 4th now - but your point stands.
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
theprof wrote:
2ndBest wrote:
I think people give Smith too much credit.  He is incredibility lazy defensively.


if smith is lazy? where do you rate Brown and Lia???


Isn't Smith supposed to be a striker, probably explains his lack of confidence defending.

I like Smith and would applaud Ricki to start him and bench Brown. 
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
It's strange that a lot are blaming Ricki. How about the players we have are not good enough.Of course the boys play to instruction, but you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

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

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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
el grapadura wrote:
foolish182 wrote:
to be honest desipte our poor finishing recored and the fact that this club started with the best striker the leagues ever seen and now we dont have one. im f**kin chuffed as hell! that we are in this situation, 3rd, tigharse defence, looking solid in away games.

yea for the most part its not overly pretty, but i love reading the scorelines after the match!

ricki does have his limits in coaching and tactics, bt i think this stage of the season we should be excited as f**k that we could get a home semi, rather than looking who in the team we should replace. there will be more than enough time for that in the off season!


We're actually 4th now - but your point stands.
 
Not sure why people constantly rattle on about Ricki's "coaching limitations", seems to me that he ghas his teams, both the nix and All Whites play in a style that suits the players we have on our books.
 
It would be lovely to see us play like Barcelona but we simply do not have the personnel to do so, hence the style we play. That to me is good coaching, choosing your style to meet the players you have available.
 
Results for the last three years speak for themselves
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
It's Ricki that has recruited some of the players that are passengers.
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about 14 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
George Kostanza wrote:

theprof wrote:

2ndBest wrote:
I think people give Smith too much credit.� He is incredibility lazy defensively.

if smith is lazy? where do you rate Brown and Lia???
Isn't Smith supposed to be a striker, probably explains his lack of confidence defending.I like Smith and would applaud Ricki to start him and bench Brown.�


Think he primarily sees himself as an attacking midfielder.
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