Phoenix vs Adelaide

Phoenix vs Adelaide

Big ask this week we need a win and a draw from the last two games and also require CCM to lose both of their games and if they draw one or both of them we need two wins from two games. Just one win from CCM will have our playoff hopes extinguished. This truely is a must win game.

                    Moss
Muscat Durante Dodd Lochhead
                  McKain
      Bertos Brown Daniel
           Smeltz Barbarouses

If Ferrente starts this week Tony or Terry need to have a word with Ricki as Ferrente is doing nothing anymore. I think we should play a true second stiker this week and I think Costa will be fine although Draper does deserve a start. For the bench I would hope it is this:

Paston
Christie
Kwasnik
Draper

Its a pretty attack-minded bench but I think that is absolutely necessary. We want a big crowd in so try get to the game if you are not on holiday, we want a crowd 12K+!

Paston on the bench??

isnt kwasnik injured?

can I also put a case for playing with more than one striker Smeltz was left stranded a lot of the time against one or more teams this season and we dont currently have any other out and out strikers apart from barbarouses and draper who havent really been given a go...or maybe we will just play the usual and then as we cant finish bottom the club can say that its a real improvement on last year..we are too defensive and need attacking players!!!

Costa's a striker now?

I can't keep up...

Moss is in form I won't deny him a place for my own preference and me putting Paston in would piss off too many people.

I noticed on the CCM forums that in the match thread they would do a simulation using Fifa 09 of the match so I decided to do this vs Adelaide, using Adelaides likely formation and the formation I posted above for the Nix. In it Costa scored in the 2nd minute to give the Phoenix a 1-0 home win. Hopefully its a good omen because on the CCM forums most of the FIFA 09 results turned out to be right

Daniel was so so average last night, looked slow and lazy. If Kwasnik is fit I would start him in Troys spot with Daniel on the bench

Agreed

Kwasnik diod a hammy in the warm up, Dura also did his hammy, unsure if wither are fit, Troy will be suspended! If Siggy is still hurt that could stretch our CB options.

Double agreed.
As most know, im not a daniel fan and I am baised.
But Adam needs a start or at the least a full 45. For reasons News and I only know.

                             Moss

Muscat      Sigmund   Durante      Lochhead

                           McKain

       Bertos                              Daniel

                           Kwasnik  

       Smeltz                        Draper

Subs:
Paston
Barbarouses
Ferrante
Dodd

I don't think Bertos as a striker is the best option, he should use his pace down the wing to beat players so that when he crosses there will be two strikers waiting for the ball, not just one.

Kwasnik really needs to perform and he sure knows it so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt over Ferrante who (I rate but) has been invisible of late.  Draper gets a start as he's a jolly nice fellow having spoken with him at the airport (has one of the seediest winks though).

Last season Daniel and Lochhead on the left together did well and I'd like to see that again.  Costa on the bench because he has plenty of potential and needs to prove himself so like Kwasnik I think he'd be more than up for it.

I'm undecided on whether I'm flying down for this weekend's game. Nothing to do with last night's performance, by the way.

Daniel doesn't deserve a start.

If all our injured players aren't ready for next week, I reckon Plodder should get a start. Dead serious.

That's not such a daft shout. I think he's looked OK in the small amount of game time he's had.

basically anyone except Mulligan.

I agree. The man is class.

I think its likely that Bertos will start up front with Smeltz, we will almost definitely be in a 4-4-2 shape since Adelaide is so good at beating us when we try anything else.  I think we could try pushing Brown forward into that slot behind the strikers, he's getting so close to a lot of our crosses with late runs into the box, make that more of a focus for him and I think he's likely to score.

This will likely be Smeltz and Moss' last games at the RoF.

Christie in the midfield and Bertos up front with Smeltz?

Last game for the Phoenix that is, looking forward to their return next season. Can't wait till Smeltz vs Siggy or Moss vs Paston.

Costa isn't a striker. Though neither is Leo and he's been playing further up..



Moss vs Paston? I suppose Moss might be forced into playing striker as he'll be behind Theo//
valeo2009-01-12 19:17:43

So if you want to play another striker then why would you pick the attacking midfielder that is Costa over another attacking midfielder that is Bertos????

Theo wont be re signed I think. They now have two keepers on the books, why add a 3rd?

Or Coveny

Whine to the media, you ride the pine. Old Mans Beard must go!

We need to give players like Kwasnik a good ammount of playing time either against Adelaide or Melbourne. They need to prove that they are worth a contract for next season

Well then tell us rather than do the 'I know more than you do gig' or just say nothing.

Definitely agree with you there

As long as its still Mathematically possible to get to the finals we should play the best team we can.

                              Moss

No he hasn't

Costa is a striker... http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/default.aspx?s=wellfc_playerprofile_item&pid=1475 Unless you know better then the Phoenix themselves

Dodd has not re-signed and Greene, you're wrong.

Based on what?

HEARFIELD UP FRONT.