Phoenix vs Adelaide in Christchurch

19200

When was the last time they were the only professional team in England?

And flights and accommodation?

Was also there the atmosphere was amazing (for chch). Everyone was happy and smiling pouring out of the stadium.

19,258 to be exact. Brilliant stuff.

Just like Melbourne, just without the stabbings.

It's just not football if at the end of the night someone isn't clutching their stomach, trying to keep their guts from spilling out.

the GAME:
great to get a win - but how lucky were we against a team that is bottom and without some key players. Our saving grace at the moment is that we are able to put a goal or 2 past most of the other average teams in the league.

What is frustrating is, remembering when we really turned it on against the gold coast we:
1: Closed down their players fast and put pressure on the ball carrier.
We seem to stand off them now and give them lots of room and time to pick their players out

2: Marked and tracked the other passing options so they could not find un-marked men easilly.
We seem to now stand in spaces hoping they will pass badly too us instead.

3: Have a lot of supporting movement for the ball player.
Now we seem to often run - stand and wait for the ball rather than be running into the space to meet the ball like the top teams are doing.

4: Cherish possession and not just boot it away for line outs up field
So many times we won the ball with some hard fought defence only to belt it up the field and give it back to them to come at us again, or give it away with some inane passing.

5: Last and my most frustrating..
Make the Ball do the work - quick passing - release the ball early if the pass is on!!!
So often we have players playing for themselves with the need to take 3 or more touches when they could have passed on 2, beat another player when the amount was ok already - before passing. I repeat I think Ifill is a great player but how many times do you see him (and others) hold onto the ball when a great early pass option was on and then he gets dispossessed - if it wasn't for Durante (or McKain not sure) they had a 1 on 1 that they would have equalised from and Melb scored their 2nd this way by dispossessing Ifill when he could have passed earlier.

Move the ball quickly and as a team, close down the ball carrier and his space and take away his options through good marking - that's where we will win matches and thats  proven by the great result we had against Gold Coast.

We are a team of good individuals at the moment - I think we can be a great team of good individuals. But we have to RE-start playing as a team like we did so convincingly against Gold Coast at home.

I dunno but, when was the last time Manchester United played a "home" game away from Old Trafford

Not to mention adding weight to having a nz team in the australian league. Everyone in the aust forums were very impressed with the crowd figure. I think we converted a few more anti nz football supporters. So the nix are continuing to build into a great club.

This just in - you guys aren't Manchester United.

Completely different circumstances.  ChCh has no access to a professional team.  Where as every person in England does.

Apart from the people of Portsmouth

grab a seat normally has tickets to wellington for 39 bucks.

Yeah Probably not the best team to use in comparison or league. I just don't think we need to ship home games around the country
giddyup2010-01-31 12:27:01

I can't believe that after such a succesful venture to Christchurch, that we are having this debate (again) about the merits of playing a home game away. chchnix2010-01-31 12:28:40

Im not so sure...they were VERY keen for this game to happen. But it was a massive success,maybe make it every 2 years? (this is a big back down on my part,initially was VERY against it). But i think if it were annual,you would see crowds drop. Every 2 years however,theyll be starved again before the next nix match rolls round! Tegal2010-01-31 12:33:19

 

And everyone else who doesn't?

 

For a one off event it was brilliant. Well done Chch. You've done Phoenix proud. I hope Phoenix play future games there and perhaps Auckland too. Yes its a wellington team. but when it performs well the whole country hears about it. I hope ROF gets a decent crowd in its home game in 2weeks. GO the Phoenix

Please book us in for family of 4 - one of those swanky hotels in near the square would be good.

Oh and if a game was down here,I do think it wouldve been nice for some sort of deal to have been cut for season pass holders for flights or accomodation.

hmmm ...would be a risk taikng it to Auckalnd, but certainly a good challange for Wellington public to beat the Cantab crowd.

I think its a great idea. Phoenix will always be a Wellington Brand. But spreading its name around the country including auckland is a good thing. Its spreading Football.

Its  cheap and easy flying down for the night, its not like going to aussie.

Yeah fair enough sorry, I'm just selfish and want the Nix all to myself

Well you can blame ACDC for that. infact its worked out as a bonus. I mean could you really see 19200 at ROF if they played there yesterday?. Chch set the record. darkhorse2010-01-31 12:52:31

Great crowd - I was skeptical that you guys would get such big numbers to the game but you did say about 3-4 weeks ago you thought 20k would show up and you were right. Good stuff. Wouldn't like to see another game in Palmy but I have no problem with another one off game in Chch. I doubt the crowd would be as big because the draw of the new stand opening wont be there again but enough people in Chch obviously love football to justify it.

I understand how expensive it is for a family its just not a viable option for most. Season ticket holders should only pay for home matches in wellington and have the option of a cheap ticket for the chch match.

I have no problem with spreading Wgtn Nix love around the country - even a game up in Auckland would be good (if it shuts up blue mojo even better).

I really enjoyed the match. Nothing certain until the whistle. Worked for me!!

I was not impressed by the fourth official.

If we are serious about winning the competitiion then we should not play our home games away from the ring of fire as the home ground (rof) and its support DOES give the team  llift and advantage as well as familiarity with hoe conditions (wind, turf etc).

Stimlate the interest through pre-season so away 'supporters' are happy to travel to Wellie for the TRUE HOME experience (in all it's gusty glory)

Good results (best achieved at home) will increase interest, increase attendance, increase sponsorship and overall return Terry more $$$$

Or better yet, a free ticket like they did this year.

Easier said then done. ROF isnt owned by Phoenix and is shared by other codes and events. If Phoenix want to have all there home games in wellington then it should build its own football stadium.

Just been looking at a few of the Oz football sites.

Screw you guys, no way am I going to the Shore for a football match. Or for anything, come to think of it. Eden Park for def, Mt Smart mmmmaaayyyyybe.