Phoenix v Victory

Yes it's disappointing to drop points in the way we did but Melbourne were coming off winning 8 of their last 10 including 5 straight away from home.  They're a very good side.  It just puts pressure on us to get a result against Sydney who are obviously faltering

I suspect you're bored and reading something into my comment that wasn't actually there so as to help pass the time?

I would have thought it reasonably obvious that telling the ref what you think and abusing the ref are two different things.  Sometimes they cross over, yes, but it's still pretty clear that 'giving them a piece of their mind' does not automatically equate to abuse.

EDIT:  Having said all that, though, there are several referees around the world who deserve to be shot.  Fortunately none of the ones I'm thinking of are in the a-league.
loyalgunner2009-12-05 05:55:02

It's the only time I've been close (that I remember) so it wouldn't be wise to go with my power ball prediction.

Having said that, if you win it, yes I will take half.

One thing I really didn't like tonight was the players swarming around the referee prior to him sending the Melbourne guy off, what was that all about, didn't look particularly sporting to me if they were trying to influence the ref into booking the guy, not a good look for the 'nix....

One thing i didnt like was when nix went back into there shell. The period where they just slowed the pace down so that MV could and did claw there way back. Its a problem that needs to be addressed. If i was ricki i would lay down the law. Hell do a Ali Williams and put viagra in the silverwear..for all to drink..oops diffrent topic all together

WC draw is on woohoo

we are in with italy  !!!!!!!!!

Slovakia and Paraguay as well.  The draw's been very kind to us indeed.

Ifill saying to Piney that ref had no intention of sending ward till players talked to him, then he finally went over to linesman after who told him it was worth a card.  Not happy with ref overall "but can't say to much because i'll probably cop a fine".

Shows ref did infact bottle it when it came to the crunch, and the players talking to him got the decision.

Imagine if Crowther was in goal...statistically, we would have lost 27.3455583 - 0.

If you read back to the thread Mike, a couple of us mentioned that. Just Scottishboy only standing up for the referee. It was plainly obvious it was a card and the fact it took 30secs for him to pull it and he went partially over to his AR, confirmed that at the time. He saw it, he blew, he wasn't giving it until his AR told him. Its his 3rd time this year with the Phoenix and all 3 times he has been horrible. He had nothing to do after the send off because Melborne stopped forcing the game for a large period

He's possibly going to the world cup. God help us.

I agree, and said so in the thread at the - just pointing it out for those (it wasn't just SB) that said the ref just took his time, and did well to consult with the lino.

Putting aside the aingst, that was a damn entertaining game of football.  Melbourne showed why they are top of the table, looked class, controlled the ball well and looked creative and as threatening as it gets for this league.   In the second half they looked tight, organised and hard to break down with seven in the back third, but still dangerous on the break. 

The Phoenix did their bit.  Enterprising, Hearfield and Locky getting forward and creating chaos.  Brown, Lia and Caceres dominated midfield.  4-5-1 helped with that.   

OK - putting the aingst back on.  Failed to unlock Victory in the second half and pretty much ran out of ideas.  Like others are saying, I agree the squad is still a couple of players short of a champion side.
No bloody strikers.  NOBODY in that side is comfortable taking responsibility and has the skill set attacking in and around a well defended box.  Driving in with the ball at foot, or taking the dangerous shot through traffic.  They all are looking to lay it off.  No natural, hungry, skilled, strong aggressive strikers. 
Ifill is the somewhat exception, but is better slightly wider, Greenacre has his strengths but can't do it alone. 
We have a game suited to beating the opposition wide and crossing but have no height in the centre.  Except for corners when we bring forward height, but height with no compass.  hullo Mr Durante lol. 
Damn damn damn, so close, but not quite.

Buy strong and tall. Please.
attacking mid is another story.

But, hey, I thought it was a good entertaining game and the team is close.  Bloody hard for Ricki to finish these games off without that extra striker.

Just my anal pennies worth.  A quieter night from the Fever, thought the team could have done with your help and inspiration a couple of times.

mjp22009-12-05 10:04:18

Okay angst aside, at least we showed we can foot it with the best.

And WPF, where the f**k was Paston's organising when there was no man on the back post!

All OK, seizure and trouble breathing, after around 15 mins he managed to stand up  got on the stretcher

good news

What happened with the One Shot For Glory flags?

good neews sthn jeff...

I 2nd this

Any news on whether siggy has been cited by the Match review Committee. Gut feel is he may get 3 - 4 weeks for his effort.

just out of interest. our 14 game streak, how many wins, how many draws?

I can't understand why we changed the formation back to the very same one that saw us become draw specialists earlier in the season? Changed to 4-4-2. won more games, go back to 4-5-1...draw! What a f--ing surprise eh?

Costa and Ifill should've been up front from the start IMO. At the very least it should've been 4-4-2 from the start of the 2nd half with them down to 10 men.

I think you've forgotten that we don't have a second team. If you want to spend money on other players and move the 4 you mentioned out then another 4 will be sitting on the sidelines and not playing. You'll soon be calling them pointless members.

Not everyone can play every game and we don't have another team. These pointless members of the squad train with against the playing squad, so how does this make them pointless?

I think we suffered not having Greenacre. He is usually the focal point in our attack and is always up front working and making space with Ifiill creating and scoring goals in a free role. But without Greenacre Ifill had to become the focal point and was limited to a central role

Points.

1. To 'remove' those players now would still cost against the cap as we would have to pay out contracts.

2. We are obliged by the rules of the league to have a twenty man squad.

Even if they go (if their contract isnt up at the end of the season) then theyd still count toward the salary cap for next season. So we may as well have them in the squad for training and squad numbers,since we'd be paying them either way.

what about chens loan deal? surely it had a bailout clause

Steve-O you are back to being a dick again

All over the world doesnt have the same salary cap rules...

Yes I am a dick for saying we should get rid of players who serve no purpose to the squad apart from quite literally making up the numbers. Whatever will I think of next?!

"Hey you,you willing to be out of a job for free,we dont want you to take up salary cap money you see"

And another thing...WTF is with our shooting from outside the box? Very poor ALL the time.

I was wondering what was up with our lack of shooting