Phoenix v Jets - Sunday 22

Caceras looked great going forward out wide against a tiring defense. i was watching him carefully and he never did much work off the ball..certainly didn't track back much....he is NOT an option in CM to replace Lia. Two completely different players playing two completely different roles.

what have mulligan and diego done to deserve a mention in the starting 11??? Brown to DM, Caceras pushing on. subbed for troy the boy in the 60th min. or if mckain is fit, just do a straight swap with lia

http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=30642 Caceres wants to start... I personally agree with him and think he has played very well lately and deserves his chance

i would rather mulligan started

no mulligan.

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/116592,blog-enter-the-zleague.aspx

Terrible article. Basically says Knights=Phoenix.

Agreed, rubbish article. Generalizing the Knights and Nix together is not right. Two different teams from two different times.

I read it just now. What an absolute prick. What gives him the right to promote absolute crap. As if australia are in the top 10 in the world. Oh thats right they've dropped to 24th in fifa rankings. Useless bastard!

paston what a legend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mully to get his well deserved chance. period.

Why would you play Mulligan, who hasn't stuck anywhere he has played and has been awful at right back (his natural position) in the central midfield again? I'm just asking for the piece of logic. What has he done to deserve that start?? Zero. You are just reading peoples posts above and rolling with it.

Diego is petulent and sulky. Why would you start him again???? Whats he done to deserve that.

We have too many similar players in Bertos, Daniel, Ifill in that the player that should start (Caceres) probably wont because the other 3 are very similar. You can't ask Brown to hold the middle on his own while everyone else pushes forward. 4 players in a creative midfield role??? Not a chance.

To be honest, I don't expect much from this game as I think the players will be flat after the All White win so I'll give them the right to lose this win with a valid excuse. But only one.

Yeah Vader, I am sensing a little let-down after such an euphoric win last night.

I do hope I am proven absolutely wrong.

Due to the tight nature of the table, it's simply a game we've got to take points out of. Newcastle are a decent side, but very beatable, as we showed recently.

I wouldnt be suprised if Ricki rested a couple of All whites for this game to be honest. Brown and Siggy both sustained some minor injuries (they could well have just been running down the clock) so wouldn't be suprised if maybe McKain went into the defense and Ferente or maybe Mulligan took up Browns roll... 

No right to lose!

Mulligan's case is based on work in training, preseason and friendly games where he has scored and played well from a midfield position. Also that he has played well for the All Whites in the past, has a better free kick than most, if not all of the options we have and definitely has potential we haven't seen.

But not worth a start unless Brown or Lia can't.

Tegal2009-11-16 13:15:11

Possibly. Has been on the bench as an impact player coming on for Costa/Bertos/Greenie/Ifill I think?  Not necessarily your first choice central mid to replace either Vince Lia or Tim Brown. But yeh has had form, but also apparently played poorly when he did get a start?

Caceres is probably the worst defender in the team so putting him in there instead of Lia or Brown is a big risk.

Yeah that is a good point,and one i did think about after posting. Wonder if he'd see it that way though if Mulligan started ahead of him suddenly. Not that it matters,just he seems the type to be peeved easily at not starting. He did leave to come to us because he wasnt being played at his old club.

Maybe we could see Mulligan and Caceres! Although i do doubt that I must admit..

when does mckain return from injury

Comments forgiving a loss because they might be flat?  I'm hoping they'll feel invincible, and waltz to a win. We also have enough non-AWs in the team.

As for Mulligan, he'd want to play. Conundrum for Ricki.

Break would have done the rest of the team good.

No excuses,  they are professionals.  They should be feeling great and the non-AWs should be raring to go.  2-0 Nix

This is clear cut:  Mulli is an AW and needs match time.

We all know he has been found out both at the Nix as well as for the AWs but he is a mid who, WHEN REQUIRED plays RB. 

If any of you were present at the U17 games in '99 you would have witnessed Mully playing in the mids and playing very well (he was NZs top scorer).  I know thats 10 years ago but still valid point. Plus is a better setpiece taker then virtually anyone else in the AWs or the Nix

He's not been given an adequate chance to prove himself.  Give him a wee run then judge... if he's still crap then, c u!

I know thats 10 years ago but still valid point

The fact its 10 years ago makes it even less of a valid point. Plenty of players show promise at U17 level and go on to be rubbish.

But from recent form in training and friendlies,i wouldnt mind him having a go in central mid. It has been a bit unfair of him to be judged on a couple of games at right of defence (and a few training games where he was rubbish too),he must be pressing for some game time by the end of the season surely.

Oh. So he spends 10 years of his professional career mostly as a right back who's pretty much failed to impress in most places he's been, but what really testifies to his ability is an age-grade tournament held ten years ago where he looked half-decent? If he was such a talented midfield player, wouldn't one of the professional coaches he's worked with for the past decade have recognised that talent, and given him the opportunity to express and showcase it?

How is McKain doing? Shouldn't he be fit by now?

Real real same this is not a home game for us.....we all want another "fix" after the elation of last weekend. Probably would have dragged a bigger crowd in too as everyone wants to surf the new football wave.

Give Mulligan/Diego a start a DM. Both have/can play there so I see no reason why not. Also feedback on Mulligan seems to be quite good. If we rest Brown we could start both but that would be a huge risk...

diego at defensive mid?  his defensive a ability = 0 (to put it into FM terms)

I am pretty sure he played a DM for Adelaide. Also his creative talent (yes he does have it, look at Adelaides ACL campaign) would be useful in a deep position.

He played DM often for Adelaide in the Asian Champions League run and he was actually more impressive there