Phoenix vs Malben - Match Thread

373 replies · 2,154 views

over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Enough of the post mortum - looking forward to this Sunday's game.

My line up;

Moss

Mulligan (first choice) / Muscat McKain Durante Lochhead

Brown (first choice) / Johnson Ferrante

Hearfield Kwasnik Gao

Smeltz

Bench;

Mulligan / Muscat

Brown / Johnson

Daniel

Bertos

Mulligan, Gao and Brown obviously depending on fitness

Hearfield has impressed every time he's come on and deserves a start

Daniel on the bench to give him a wake-up call and he has played well coming on with 30 to go when the others are a bit knackered.

Bertos unlucky but makes way to give Hearfield a shot.

I know = no spare keeper - it won't happen.

He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

                          Moss

Mulligan      McKain      Durante      Lochhead

                   Ferrante   Johnson

    Bertos               Gao            Daniel

                             Smeltz

Bench:
Paston
Dodd
Hearfield
Kwasnik

I'd give Johnson a shot to prove he's worth a start ahead of Dodd, even though I am kinda pro Dodd as DM. Mulligan in for Muscat if fit, but otherwise Muscat gets the nod. No way can we bench Daniel and I think Leo has what it takes, we need to show some confidence in his abilities. If the AM's flatter to decieve again Hearfield might deserve a shot in the starting XI. I'm not totally convinced by Kwas and would rather have Gao.
KTBW2008-08-18 17:58:13

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

KTBW wrote:

Looks good to me, although Muscat could get a bench spot.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

KTBW wrote:

                          Moss

Mulligan      McKain      Durante      Lochhead

                   Ferrante   Johnson

    Bertos               Gao            Daniel

                             Smeltz

Bench:
Paston
Dodd
Hearfield
Kwasnik

i agree with this 100%

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

KTBW wrote:

I agree with this totally too.

Don't think Muscat did a lot wrong but we need Mulligan, especially for his set piece delivery. Our set pieces were horrible against the Roar.

Dodds distribution was horrific. Give Johnson a start, he looked superb against the Victory.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

for me:

Moss

Mulligan Dura McKain Lochhead

Johnson Ferrante

Hearfield Gao/Bertos Daniel

Smeltz

Paston

Dodd

Kwasnik/Bertos

Brown/Coveny

If Gao is fit, I'd play him ahead of Bertos, and agree WB, I think hearfield should get a run in his preferred position. If Gao isn't match fit, I'd play Bertos instead, meaning Kwasnik would get Leo's bench spot. Not sure which one of Coveny and Brown should get the last bench spot, that depends on wether we want the bench to have a more attacking or defensive look

You know we belong together...

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Whitby boy wrote:

I know = no spare keeper - it won't happen.

You're right, but FFA rules say one of the subs has to be a 'keeper.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Moss

Muscat McKain Durante Lochhead

Johnson Ferrante/Brown

Bertos Daniel Gao

Smeltz

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

liverpoolfan1 wrote:

Whitby boy wrote:

I know = no spare keeper - it won't happen.

You're right, but FFA rules say one of the subs has to be a 'keeper.

Can you not just claim the guy you put on bench instead of Paston as a keeper? Or do you have to register who your keepers are at the start of the season officially?

Could have Brown as our 'reserve keeper' then bring him on as DM

Allegedly

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Stabbies? Come on lads, that's a bit harsh.

We're Tards, ok?

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Moss

Mulligan Dura McKain Lochhead

Johnson Ferrante

Hearfield Kwasnik Daniel

Smeltz

Paston

Muscat

Bertos

Coveny

Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Tegal wrote:

Could have Brown as our 'reserve keeper' then bring him on as DM

Nope. The keeper sub is a designated keeper (it could be Brown, but that's just stupid), and they can only play in goal.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

gotta laugh at the idea

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Lonegunmen wrote:

Moss

Mulligan Dura McKain Lochhead

Johnson Ferrante

Hearfield Kwasnik Daniel

Smeltz

Paston

Muscat

Bertos

Coveny

Look good to me though I would give Dodd another week for Johnson. Coveny would add abit of attacking muscle fro the bench

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Agree with you WbyBoy except in midfield where I would start Johnson as first choice.

Moss

Mulligan (first choice) / Muscat McKain Durante Lochhead

Johnson Ferrante

Hearfield Kwasnik Gao

Smeltz

Bench;

Mulligan / Muscat

Brown

Daniel

Bertos

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Mckain could play def mid

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

KTBW wrote:

Exactly the XI I was going to type out. I still think our best performance this season was vs CCM, this is that team with Mulligan for Lia and Johnson for Dodd. Harsh to leave Dodd out after last season, but so be it. Only comment is that Kwasnik and Hearfield are similar types of players, I'm still keen on Covs on the bench. When I'm a tired defender those long legs are the last thing I'd want to see.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Greek-Boi wrote:

Mckain could play def mid

that's a good point - Durante and Dodd at CB

I like tautologies because I like them.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

    ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½                     Moss

Mulliganï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ McKainï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ Duranteï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½Lochhead
ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½
       ï¿½              Ferranteï¿½ï¿½ Dodd

           Bertos           Kwasnik       Danielï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½
ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½
                             Smeltz

Bench:
Paston
Muscat
Hearfield
Gao

I think Dodd will start, he wasn't as bad to me as some have said, and Ricki has clearly earmarked him for that spot, I think he will persist for a bit. Muscat can cover the back four, Hearfield the midfield, and Gao to come on as another attacking option. Kwasnik played ok, we would be praising the hell out of him if that shot was 1 cm lower and snuck under the bar. Only if Mulligan is fit would I put him on for his free kick ability, Manny did ok last time against the victory

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

hepatitis wrote:

Agreed but.......
Kwasnik to swap position with Daniel and, as Dodd can also cover the back four, a DMF instead of Muscat.

But no Costa or Draper just seems wrong somehow.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

why do the nix play with 2 dm when most oposition play only with 1 or 2 strikers which a back four can normally handle by playing with one dm allows 4 certral midfielders which helps your attract as smeltz was left by himself too often

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Because we're still getting use to having a sound defence is my guess.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Give Dodd another go. He sure was out of sorts on Sunday but everyone will have a bad game at some point and if we drop the player every time they have a one game glich we'll have none left, not to mention what it does to their confidence.

I'd have Dodd back in purely because it's Melbin and he went well against them in the PSC

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

count wrote:

2 DM's is absolutely the way to go in the modern game, it allows you to exert greater control over the midfield, provides a sound base to start off attacking moves and also gives extra protection to the back 4. Most decent sides around the world are playing 4231 or some variant of it, generally one of the '2' is more defensive than the other though and in our case Ferrante is that man, his role can be better described as that of a deep lying playmaker. Same role as Carrick's for Man Utd, Xabi Alonso 'sfor Liverpool and Pirlo's for Milan.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Cosimo wrote:

Greek-Boi wrote:

Mckain could play def mid

that's a good point - Durante and Dodd at CB

seems a bit daft to break up what will probably be one of the best centre back pairings in the league

if dodd cant do the job (and 1 league game may not be enough to decide that) then Johnno and tim brown are waiting in the wings

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Brown would be my pick to move into the dm position if Dodd can't do it.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Yo C-Diddy and Valeo: you blokes coming to Ye Olde Dungeon of Footeballe aka The Charles Dickens Tavern to watch the Vix stab the Nix?

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

It's unrealistic to have Mulligan and Brown in any permutations to start given they missed the pre-season and still need fitness work. Ricky's not crazy to put them in against Melbourne since, in all likelihood, they'll not be ready for it.
With that in mind, I think Dodd will have a role to play in DM since Johnson can't really last 90 minutes, but who starts is debatable, but I'd probably say Dodd since it looks Ricky fancies him in the DM role and won't give up on him there so easily.
The only other change I can see coming is LeiLei (if fit) for Kwasnik.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

both ward and archibald are out for this weekend

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

the only changes i would make is if Gao is back play him instead of Kwasnik and if Mulligan is match fit play him and get rid of Dodd and play Johnson

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Yeh I wouldn't mind seeing Brown out there. Surely he is completely fired up after the absence? And he is VC...and he has got a lot to prove...Dodd on the bench as cover for three positions...

Covs on the bench? wasn't convinced with Kwasnik last week...if not Covs who as striking cover?

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

el grapadura wrote:

hmm...maybe no Mulligan..but on that basis they won't make any starts there are really no soft games in this league...

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

How do squad members who are not playing in the starting 11 get and stay match fit - it must be hard for RH to chop and change too much - Johnson is not match fit but do you play him in a competition games to gain his fitness? Mulligan and Brown will not be match fit - how will they get up to speed without jepordising the success of the team?

You can train the house down but everyone needs match time under there belt

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Johnson played in the Cup final the other week, he looked okay for fitness then.

The reserves or at least some squad members have games most Wednesdays depending on available pitches and finding reasonable opposition.

How's my driving? - Whine here

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Agree Johnson played PSC final and I even recall him getting forward to support the forwards a couple of times in that game. He is a DM and has good ball control and lays off the simple passes, he might have lost a couple of yards of pace over the years but Dodd is no whippet.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

hearfield as striker cover if not covs as he has played a striker in youth because of his work rate and ability to finish which would support smeltz

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

tigers wrote:

Cosimo wrote:

Greek-Boi wrote:

Mckain could play def mid

that's a good point - Durante and Dodd at CB

seems a bit daft to break up what will probably be one of the best centre back pairings in the league

if dodd cant do the job (and 1 league game may not be enough to decide that) then Johnno and tim brown are waiting in the wings

true, but Dodd and Mckain played well together in the PSC final. That's still a good CB pairing, and I think Mckain would be pretty awetasmic at DM.

I like tautologies because I like them.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Agree the team won't change much. Only point of doubt would be if Mully starts and then gets subded by Muskrat when he's tired. Gao must start if fit. We need his flair.Dodd wil start as DM.....Ricki wants to develop him therei but don't be surprised if he is pulled for Johnno if things don't go well for him.

Really looking forward to tis one. Love to see the guys relax a bit. They looked real nervous and tight against the Raw. They just need to go out and play their natural game like they were doing preseason.

The stats from last season showed that nearly every team got better results away from home i.e the home advantage thing didnt show. the theory from SBS football is that teams get too uptight for their home games....trying to do well for the home fans