A few NYE quiets at 4K then a victory celebration moving into 2010.
Luv it!
The line up isn't ideal but the reality, IMHO, is; Greenacre is out, Costa isn't up to starting, Daniel has been poor for ........ (fill in your own view), Diego has been AWOL the entire season, Leo is far better out wide than through the middle, Brown, although he is a poor finisher does finish some, Caceres deserves a start and we need to win,.
I also suspect Manny has been asked to do a marking job - with Lia, McKain and Durante directing him he should be fine. Don't forget both Lia and Brown are a card away from a suspension so, in all probability, we will need someone to fill in at DM over the next few weeks anyway - your other option is Ferrante (I guess McKain could also be alsked to play DM although he is clearly unhappy playing there and is much better at CB).
Until Greeny returns it makes sense to me to push Brown forward.
I'm happy Herbert is trying something different.
Allegedly
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To be fair I thought Diego played very well in his last game against Newcastle, and surely with sigmund back next week Mckain will go to DM. I think Lia has more chance of a yellow card than scoring a goal, i could't imagine Lia, Durante or Brown making it past this game without a card so a place will open up. Has Manny ever played DM before?
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Caceras turns up for 10 minutes a match. �
That is 9 minutes more than Daniel and Bertos have been delivering lately!
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To be fair I thought Diego played very well in his last game against Newcastle, and surely with sigmund back next week Mckain will go to DM. I think Lia has more chance of a yellow card than scoring a goal, i could't imagine Lia, Durante or Brown making it past this game without a card so a place will open up. Has Manny ever played DM before?
yeh, he used to play DM for Green Gully I think it is in Victoria, before he signed for the 'Nix.
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To be fair I thought Diego played very well in his last game against Newcastle, and surely with sigmund back next week Mckain will go to DM. I think Lia has more chance of a yellow card than scoring a goal, i couldn't imagine Lia, Durante or Brown making it past this game without a card so a place will open up. Has Manny ever played DM before?
In which case McKain would need to play CB.
Lia's next suspension is 2 games, it is therefore quite conceivable that 2, or god forbid 3, of Brown, Lia and Durante are out at the same time.
I have the same nightmares as everyone else when I recall Dodd trying to play DM but I think (hope) Manny will be different - he is quicker and more skillful than Dodd. As I said earlier I also think he has probably been given a marking job to do.
I like the attacking intent of the line-up and also think it rewards form (Hearfield and Caceres) so what the hell - give it a shot.
He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)
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Have to wonder though- why hearfield at right back? stick him further up the park! Our run of results last year seemed to come with a surge of form from Hearfield, Bertos and Smeltz across the front. Pace and some skill, and Brown managing the odd one or two.
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well if Phoenix doesnt perform well this 09/10 season then sack ricki. 
darkhorse2009-12-30 14:12:32
darkhorse2009-12-30 14:12:32
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Trying something different for the sake of it - including playing people completely out of position etc. - just doesn't make sense to me. Especially in a league that is so tight.
valeo2009-12-30 14:44:27
valeo2009-12-30 14:44:27
a.haak
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Trying something different for the sake of it - including playing people completely out of position etc. - just doesn't make sense to me. Especially in a league that is so tight.
The changes stem from Greeny being out, no second striker, Diego's poor form, Daniel's injury, Ferrante.....
I think the changes are primarily about getting Brown forward more in to scoring positions and to support Ifill. The other options to support Ifill are Caceres, Leo, and Hearfield however I think they are all better out wide with space to operate in (I don't rate Costa as a starter).
I do agree that some of the positional shifts are discretionary but Hearfield has been very good at RB and gets forward far better than Manny and Brown can be useful in the box. The "risk" is Manny at DM - fingers crossed it works out.
I find myself in the unusual and uncomfortable position of defending Herbert but I think, considering all the limitations above, he needs / has been forced to be bold otherwise we will draw our way out of the play-offs.
I'm sure "normal service" will be resumed when Greeny is back - suspensions allowing.
He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)
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I kind of support Ricki on his selection for this game. Injuries/suspensions have forced his hand to some extent.
Muscat as DM? apparently he has played there before. No problems with his defense but how well can he distribute?
Caceras finished the last game on fire so probably deserves a start. Its universaly known that he blows hot and cold...can be brilliant one moment and then shuts down for 20 minutes....he has done this all his career. Plus the guy never tracks back EVER!!!!. Still only a sub at 60 min for me.
Daniel has been quiet recently, but he has been not as bad as some people are saying. At least he will defend and still is capable of the killer ball.
Its always great to see a young player with talent take a chance when offered. Thats what Troy has done at RB. We know he can offer heaps in attack but I thought he did really well under pressure on defense in the Adelaide game. Their wide guys normal cause us all sorts of grief but Troys used his pace well to defend. He will turn out to be one of the better A-league RB's
We can win this....Mariners have had a poor run and have lost key players. But if I was placing a bet I would go for a low scoring draw!!!!
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As reported on Radio Sport yesterday...
Hearfield is playing at right-back.
Manny is playing DM
Caceres in for Daniel
Costa out of the XI, leaving Ifill up top.
I will be surprised if this works, but you never know I guess.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe_B5CzbTJo - Caceres winning penalty v Perth - footage from the Fever Zone
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As reported on Radio Sport yesterday...
Hearfield is playing at right-back.
Manny is playing DM
Caceres in for Daniel
Costa out of the XI, leaving Ifill up top.
I will be surprised if this works, but you never know I guess.
If he used to play there I can't see a problem.
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Manny at DM for some people will sound as crazy as Hearfield at RB
But that seemed to work.
Lets hope this one does
But that seemed to work.
Lets hope this one does
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Muscat as DM? apparently he has played there before. No problems with his defense but how well can he distribute?
good question here but I think its not going to be very hard to out do Brown and Lia in this area. They have never had any amazing vision so Muscat could do the role well.
He will probably just be marking out McGlinchey or Travis or whoever they play as a playmaker at the time
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maybe this is what Ricki is looking at doing
Reddy
Hearfield Dura Mckain Lochy
Manny Lia
Bertos Brown Caceres
Ifill
I'd almost be inclined to swap Ifill and Caceres. that could be something different that might work!!
Reddy
Hearfield Dura Mckain Lochy
Manny Lia
Bertos Brown Caceres
Ifill
I'd almost be inclined to swap Ifill and Caceres. that could be something different that might work!!
seems crazy to me to be playing three players out of position when they could more simply do this
Reddy
Muscat Durante McKain Lochead
Lia Brown
Bertos Caceres Hearfield
Ifill
then nobody is really playing out of position, where as sure Brown might not have great distribution skill, he has been playing there all year and is quite effective box to box. At least with Caceres sitting in the middle is defensive woes might not make much difference, if we put him on the wing, it sh*ts on our wingbacks because they have to defend double time.
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^ I agree with all of that but the fact is that it isn't what Herbert has been hinting at.
maybe he's seen something we haven't
.
maybe he's seen something we haven't
.
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Reddy
-----------------------------Hearfield McKain Dura Locky -------------------------------------------------------Manny----------------------------------------Brown Lia
------------------------------------Leo Caceres Ifill
4-3-3
Subs
crowther
diego
rojas
costa
mjp22009-12-30 20:21:59
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ifill up front by himself will be marked out of the game and when he inevitably tracks back we will have no-one up front
rojas, so special
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we saw that in previous games. dam i just hope they have plan b up there sleeve.
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ifill up front by himself will be marked out of the game and when he inevitably tracks back we will have no-one up front
that's why you play caceres up front - lol - he doesn't track back in any case, and then ifill stays in his wider preferred forward mid role.
costa when caceres goes to sleep
still need that extra striker in the squad tho', never mind
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Manny at DM for some people will sound as crazy as Hearfield at RB
But that seemed to work.
Lets hope this one does
But that seemed to work.
Lets hope this one does
Thought that Hearfield defended atrociously at times in the Adelaide game actually - especially in the 2nd half. I remember at one point he got beaten then just jogged back
Still don't think he's a right back but has done a good job filling in - just not sure why he's going to be persisted with there when we have an able right back in Manny and Hearfield is much better when he has freedom to go forward.
valeo2009-12-31 00:00:39
a.haak
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"ricki is too boring tactically,he needs to change things up,try some new things. Sack ricki"
*Ricki does all of the above*
"WTF is he doing! hes trying things when the league is so tight,too risky i dont like it! We should just play the same way we've been playing all season,with everyone in the same positions,and keep our bench players on the bench"
Cant Win!
Allegedly
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ifill up front by himself will be marked out of the game and when he inevitably tracks back we will have no-one up front
that's why you play caceres up front - lol - he doesn't track back in any case, and then ifill stays in his wider preferred forward mid role.
costa when caceres goes to sleep
still need that extra striker in the squad tho', never mind
Still can't see anyone (costa, caceres, ifill) scoring goals if they are up front alone.
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Leo, Ifill and caceras starting up front, with Costa on the bench - I'm guessing we are playing a
4 - 3 - 3 formation and going hard on attack - God I hope this works....
4 - 3 - 3 formation and going hard on attack - God I hope this works....
Queenslander 3x a year.
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Simply a must win away game for the Phoenix if you look at the remaining schedule, and they won't do it if Herbert's priority is not to lose again. The Nix are being punished for Herbert's tactical naivety in failing to close out some home game wins earlier in the season. However with a few results going our way around the bottom of the table, he more than has a chance to get it right. The sad thing for the club is that there are 5,000 to 10,000 swinging fans (above the 6,000 core) just waiting for the Phoenix to put a couple of wins together and become serious contenders, but they won't turnup to watch defensive drivel. (lone strikers etc etc)
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Game Day! Cmon Phoenix you can do it! 
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Leo, Ifill and caceras starting up front, with Costa on the bench - I'm guessing we are playing a
4 - 3 - 3 formation and going hard on attack - God I hope this works....
4 - 3 - 3 formation and going hard on attack - God I hope this works....
by the sounds of it the formation should look like this
Reddy
Hearfield Dura Mckain Lochy
Manny
Brown Lia
Bertos Ifill Caceres
is this the most attacking we've ever played?
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If i recall correctly we've played this shape at home once, can't remember who against but I think it worked well enough.
Queenslander 3x a year.
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"ricki is too boring tactically,he needs to change things up,try some new things. Sack ricki"
by dropping a forward and playing 3 DMs in a must win game? Why play our star player paul ifill in a position he doesnt do well in or seem to like week in,week out?*Ricki does all of the above*
"WTF is he doing! hes trying things when the league is so tight,too risky i dont like it! We should just play the same way we've been playing all season,with everyone in the same positions,and keep our bench players on the bench"
Cant Win!
edit: according to stuff.co.nz we are playing caceres,ifill and leo up front. could be interesting with manny,tim and vince providing the balls up front. 3-0 phoenix
bringbacksmeltz2009-12-31 10:31:15rojas, so special
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hows that the most attacking when we've got manny in the midfield and troy at right back? sounds like a mess to me
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"ricki is too boring tactically,he needs to change things up,try some new things. Sack ricki"
Have probably seen one or two people say that, ever.
Also, I think our normal formation is more attacking than that "4-3-3" which will turn into a 4-5-1
We only really have 3 out and out attacking players, wheras we usually have 4 (Greenie/Ifill/Leo/Daniel or Costa/Ifill/Leo/Daniel)
valeo2009-12-31 11:15:25Have probably seen one or two people say that, ever.
Also, I think our normal formation is more attacking than that "4-3-3" which will turn into a 4-5-1
We only really have 3 out and out attacking players, wheras we usually have 4 (Greenie/Ifill/Leo/Daniel or Costa/Ifill/Leo/Daniel)
a.haak
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when is kick off?
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
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I'm very nervous, but also pumped up for the game tonight. Come on lads !
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Oh well, at least everyone has an excuse to get drunk if we lose this time
a.haak
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Can I just ask why this game is even being played tonight? It seems to be the only game in the world that's on today!
Why not last night?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe_B5CzbTJo - Caceres winning penalty v Perth - footage from the Fever Zone
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Can I just ask why this game is even being played tonight? It seems to be the only game in the world that's on today!
Why not last night?
I know aye
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Think given the players available that 4-3-3 is a good shape for the team. However, bit worried about the ability of our midfield to create much as Muscat/Lia/Brown do not have strong passing games, that may even be an understatement, Diego must not be doing it at practice as he looks an obvious choice in that midfield formation?
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