Phoenix vs Clogs - Match Fred

Gao is injured

looks like itll be all draws this week for the A-league

Ref blow the whistle

Wellington Phoenix 1 - 1 Queensland Roar

Oh well Ill take a draw for the first game of the year.  We need to get started earlier than half time tho

I think our defenders have sounded good today, our midfield has sounded out played. Our attacking players didn't seem to get too much ball.

Fortunate to come away with a draw by the sounds of it.

Grr that wasnt in any of the match previews etc. He's in my FOX Sports fantasy league team

Perhaps, but last year the Nix would have lost that one. A good point first up and something to build on.

ricki should sell dodd and use the money to buy something useful - like a new moustache.

That game left me a little hollow. I expected a little more structure from the Phoenix and didn't see it.
Maybe a draw was fair but only just to us with Liam Reddy doing not much.

3/4 back 4 were ok with Muscat showing himself to be a little shaky. Concentration issue perhaps?
Ferrante and Dodd were just ordinary with the fat old aged Charlie Miller (can you say Jardel) making them look like donkeys and waltzing through fat mans alley.. Bertos should have made Tiatto look worse than he was so I give Tiatto the marks on that one with Daniel doing not too much creatively and Kwasnik and Smeltz surviving on crumbs.

Johnson to start next week and maybe give McKain the week off to get the knee right before it becomes a bigger issue.

What was the attendance?

10500

Bring on the f**king Victory i say!!

Not according to the owner of the name.

Thats something I'll have to concede then but I still think its sounds f**king stupid. I might start to referring Christiano as Honaldho

But that begins with a C not an R.

Why else would EVERY commentator in the League pronounce his name so?

United 1-0 up!!

Agree Dodd looked pretty average in the first half but did manage to pick his game up after the break.  Frustrating that we kept just thumping the ball downfield as most of the passes of that nature just found Roar defenders.  When we did play the short passes we looked a lot better and they did get better at doing that in the second half.

Also we were asking to lose the game at the end with all the long clearances, it just gave Qld more time on the ball to try and make one final stab at winning it and ended up being very tense for nix players and fans.

Freezing night won't do much good for my cold either !

Yeah, we were lucky to hold on there at the end. Not smart football at all.

But I feel a lot more confidence in our defence this season.

I actually disagree with some of the above comments on our performance.

Firstly, I think Queensland potentially have one of if not the strongest squads in the A-League, let's not quickly forget the trouble they gave us last season, and on the back of some strong signings (Miller, Van Dijk) they look like genuine contenders to me. I'd say a 1 - 1 draw is a credible performance, especially given that all the other sides have drawn as well (although as I write this Perth and Adelaide isn't over yet).

Secondly, yes our midfield did get overrun, but really only for the first 25 or some minutes of the match, I would put that down to nerves and Dodd still growing into his role as a DM. The second half was a different story completely and Dodd and Ferrante managed to gain ascendency, Ferrante in particular had some fantastic moments, I recall him getting surrounded by three Roar players and tricking all of them before delivering a sweet forward ball. He is absolute quality, some great passing and was possibly my MotM for tonight.

Our defense held pretty well considering their array of attacking talent but I'd say it was disappointing letting them score what was a reasonably soft goal just after half time. I think we may have been affected by that  chance in the first half where the ball bounced on the line and everyone thought we'd scored. I actually thought it crossed the line and am curious to see the replay.

I'd say on the whole we had the better chances, with the aforementioned one, Smeltz's excellent goal and a couple efforts from Leo. There was one particular attack where Leo just went himself but had Daniel cutting across dangerously on the outside. Had Leo just flicked it on Daniel could have squared for the onrushing Smeltz (or perhaps it was Kwas) and we would have had a dead cert goal, pretty similar scenario to (and you'll hate me for saying this but...) El**ch squaring to Smeltz for him to set up Felipe against (I think) Perth last year.

Still, I have some big positives to draw.

1) Smeltz getting a goal. Don't discount the value of him getting off the mark, it was a well taken finish from a smart team move (great ball from Daniel who continues to be our best creative talent).

2) Lochhead is back! He was excellent tonight, getting up and down the flank as usual. The final pass wasn't quite perfect at times but still probably the best crosser in our squad. I love his combination with Daniel, those two have worked up a really valuable relationship and are a joy to watch working their magic down the flanks.

3) Mossy, kept flawlessly tonight, he is invaluable.

4) Kwasnik + Smeltz starting to gel. I thought Kwas started to look more at home tonight and gave a pretty decent performance. I think I still prefer Gao but he gives us an excellent option and I think him and Smeltz could potentially establish a handy partnership.

5) There is still room for improvement. Mulligan in for Muscat I'd say. I think Emmy looked more comfortable the week before against Melbourne on the left flank. Does anyone know what his natural foot is? I thought he was a righty but on the basis of tonights performance I suspect he is left footed in which case starting Mulligan down that flank is probably a good move.

Gao is also still to come in, Johnson may be able to do a better job than Dodd (although I'd still give him another game at least, he has some valuable qualities and could potentially be excellent once he is more comfortable in the center) and there's still Tim Brown to come in as well.

6) Fitness. We were definitely the fitter team. They came at us for the first 25 odd minutes but they clearly tired after we soaked up all that pressure and we were all over them before half time and after we scored. I'd like to see Brockie signed, it would have been nice to have been able to bring on a fast striker to test their tiring legs. Gao could also potentially provide this impact if he doesn't end up starting.

Ultimately I'm happy with the result, and performance. Much better than losing and the way we bounced back from that goal of Queensland's when our heads could have so easily gone down was impressive. I think we are in with a chance against Melbourne last week. If we can beat them we will have a very strong start to the season so lets hope it happens.

KTBW2008-08-17 20:03:24

Came down about a foot inside the pitch. Wasn't even a hard decision to make.

The best thing that can be said about the game tonight was we got away with a point.

Had that ball not gone out off the crossbar we probably would have won. Sure they may have had MORE chances but other than the goal none of them were actually THAT close to going in. Moss may have looked acrobatic and we did have some scrambling defense at times buton the whole we were ok. Yes we should be doing better at home, but given the circumstances, and up against a Roar team who looked pretty damn good tonight you'd have to be happy with that draw. Especially when you consider the positives that I highlighted above. Mulligan in for set pieces could make a huge difference for us in particular. Our free kicks are so poor at the moment.

I will admit we are under pressure to get a win against Melbourne now though, if we lose or draw that game it will be a subpar way to kick off the season.
KTBW2008-08-17 20:17:26

would have been good if leilei was available to have come on for Kwasi or Leo  in the last 15

I think "One fried mars bar too many " Miller will do well (niggly, and strong and skillful on the ball, some good awareness and one touch in the first half)

agree Stoppy we were frightening in our lack of ability to retain possesion - but despite that we didn't concede (that for me is the difference)

Last season we would've imploded under that pressure, it's true. No offence to the dearly departed, but I am so glad I'm not watching Old and O'Dor in that back four this time round. I think our defence is looking so much better.

I didn't think Dodd played well at all in the midfield he really didnt look comfortable but the back four looked strong so an OK start to the season in my opinion

I thought it was great to see some NZ sporting stars on the big screen before and after the game wishing us luck for the season.

im sorry to all dodd lovers but i think we have to admit DM might not be the place for him after his dreadful performance tonight - gave away possession far to many times (admittedly along with others)

Yeah Im a Dodd lover and ill say he had a terrible game in DM tonight.

The worst performance of the night tonight was definitely the Fever Zone.  Quiet, disjointed, not funny.  Shambles.