Nix vs Victory, Sat 9.45pm SS2

The positive talk lasted a few weeks into the season as well.
I'm looking fwd to my 7 hour drive to be there this Sunday. C'mon Nix!

Here's a quote from the A League web site on the game saying we're playing good football..... 

As for Phoenix, their Melbourne woes continue. They failed to capitalise on their early dominance and paid the price as the game went on. Ricki Herbert’s side are playing better than ever but strength in depth remains a key issue if they’re to be considered genuine contenders.

AJ & JV, where does NN mention a youth league/team?  I think you've missed his whole point which is to give the younger ones in the squad  some game-time and bring a couple from TW into the squad.

NN, I've got to agree re Huysegems.  Ricki appears to have been planning to stick with the high cross attack - yet bought an ex-winger who likes to play football so is totally unsuited to that style.  The possession style, which Welnix want, will suit him but, on the other hand, TW may be a better breeding ground than the WP squad - did you see the recent game between the two?

[/quote]

I think the point about promoting Kiwi youngsters like Fenton, Boyd and (hopefully) Boxall and Hogg is they'll fight to impress. They want to be All Whites and they have a point to prove. They also have an affinity with a NZ club and will be happy to be based in Wellington. Lets be honest guys, someone like Huysegems is here because his European career has drawn to a close and this is a last payday. Likewise any decent Australian A League player will want to be playing for a more glamorous mainland A League club so if he ends up at the Nix it's because he couldn't get picked up elsewhere. However a young Australian player keen to break into the A League ranks is different, that's where you should be looking if you're signing Australians as well to placate the FFA.

I think the Phoenix need to stack itself with young NZ talent which is now happening. The gap between the best of our local platyers and the average A League player isn't that big and professionalism quickly closes it. I still say someone like Clapham will fight harder for the cause than someone like Lia. Just going for A League experience in the past hasn't worked. Especially when you've let the best Kiwi talent - Smeltz, Rojas and Barbarouses slip through your fingers which I largely blame on the manager's style and attitude.

Boxall, Hogg and Fenton are the future. Downey anyone?

harsh on Lia - he essentially came here as a young aussie which you said we should target - and he definitely fights hard for the nix

I'm not so sure of that 'fights for the team' thing any more. I would classify him as an endangered species

I see a lot of angst in Lia. Just not 'positive for the team' angst. I hope he comes good because in my opinion, he has been less than stellar

 My problem with him is that he is hit and miss.  Some weeks he's knocking 40 yard balls to feet and the next he can't complete a ten yard pass.  If we could get the good Vinnie working every week he'd be a great asset.

I'm conflicted about Lia because he very definitely does fight for the team, and he has improved a lot since that first season. His passing range has improved and he's generally more disciplined. The problem for me is that he's a useful squad player but not really good enough to start for a team with serious ambitions.

Disciplined? You must be joking right?

Agree with HN but we are not seeing gone good Lia right now.

I don't think he played the first 5 due to injury? Also a couple of subs appearances..

Great post. Championships don't come for free. Now is the time when true supporters really get behind their team.

Don't stop believin' fellas.

There are always a few exceptions and Dura is one them. But yes, essentially I'm saying playing for the Wellington Phoenix would not be high on the wish list of any decent Australian A League player. Why would it be, in all honesty? You couldn't even hold on to the best Kiwis you had - Smeltz, Rojas and Costa. I'm not putting you down I'm just trying to be realistic. Even if you win the A League you can't play in the Asian Champions League.

Developing young hungry talent is your best option.

True, but I was really only speaking from a supporters perspective.

Too much whining on this forum. Suck it up boys. No pain no gain.

In particular, people threatening to not attend games is pathetic.

We are not just passive spectators, we are active participants with our own role to play and responsibilities to fulfil.

True faith.

Never say never.

Where were you in 2013?

There is probably some merit to this when you consider Ferrante, O'Dor, Downey, Pav, Tsatts, Brownlie, Griffiths, Crowther...

Had 3 or 4 of them been Kiwi...

That's not actually what you were saying before. I agree with most of that (apart from you always banging on about 'losing' those players)

Yeah cos Old and Mulligan tore up

Oh I totally respect there are holes in my argument. We could name a list as long of NZ players. I wont hide from that at all.

Basically though, if you were signing squad fillers (and we are talking about usually the last 3 players in the squad), would you rather potentially expose an NZ kid to a year of pro football (and look at Musa as an example what he has done with that) or expose AU players? I think we would prefer NZ players in the hope that is does provide a benefit. If it does not, well rather our kids than helping them develop their players.

I also respect that we are here to win a league as well so...

The point is develop NZ talent rather than buy in squad fillers from across the Tasman. If a good Aussie A League player is available then okay but if not why not invest in the likes of Musa and Adam Thomas etc. They're not always going to work out but there are plenty to draw on who would love a crack at a professional stint. It's the only way you can tell if they're going to be able to step up.

One I would snap up in a year when your youth academy expands is David Browne. Of what I've seen of the kid he's better than Rojas. 

It's exactly what I've been saying all along. The Phoenix is here to develop a pathway for professional football in NZ. If you win the A League with a largely NZ squad that's a great bonus but the fact is Fifa won't let you play with the toys in the Asian Champions League sandbox even if you do.

It's a criticism I now throw at ACFC. We've become too much of a revolving door for Spanish players looking for a crack at the Club World Cup to advertise themselves and revive professional careers rather than developing NZ talent.

Re: the "losing" of NZ stars - okay, they didn't stay with Ricki so how do you put it - "greener pastures", "careless indifference", "poor management".