Phoenix vs Rrrrrrrivals, Sat 11.45pm SS1

Time to get another win at nib Stadium. Perth will be wanting to bounce back strongly after being beaten by the Wanderers, but hopefully we can extend their misery. Bring on the Distance Derby!

Jeez she's a late one.
Will have to pace myself!

Not expecting much, our games against the Glory are never pretty. Burns should be back for them, and after their poor performance on Sunday will be looking to do much better. I will be happy if we come home with a point.

I would drop Fenton to the bench for Waffles, if fit and shift Brockie wide. I think Waffles would work really well feeding off Smith's aerial ability that we saw in the Jets game with him pushed further up in a 5 man midfield.

I would like 3 points, but if 1 is offered, I'll take it.

Is Schmeltzy going to be back?  Hope he don't score against us

The "personal reasons" may keep him out again.

No further news about "Breach of Luneng Contract" Smeltz then?

Amped for this one, first game of the season played at a reasonable hour that I will be able to get up for!

TAB return-on-investment:

 Someone has got on Perth.  Pretty sure the Phoenix opened at 4.00

Double chance with an exact score or 2 sounds like a winner. 

Why don't we just play a 4-6-0?

I reckon we need to leave a winning team as it is, clearly Ifill is getting back into the form we know he can produce and Brocke appears to be finding his feet as an out and out striker! Leave it alone and the wins will come!

For Jets pretty sure he was generally wide in a front three, likewise for the Knights where he scored 4 I think it was wide in a 4 man midfield. 

Sydney played him as a striker where he wasn't great although only had two starts.

Strebre is reffing. Finally.

Imagine trying to play a game of football at what is basically midnight.

Luckily they have had a week to get used to the east coast Australian time, so hopefully the effects of playing at midnight are more like the effects of playing at 10pm.

And having previously spent time in Newcastle, makes the adjustment a little easier still. Plus a more spread out travel schedule.

There are certain things I am better at doing after midnight, but playing football isn't one of them.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/7981578/Phoenix-turn-it-around-with-attitude-and-tactics

"Adjusting to the Perth time zone had been a challenge this week with players waking up as early as 5am local time."

players went over to Perth on monday, which was the earliest possible given sunday game in newcastle. Don't they usually fly over the early when coming from Welly, I always understood they flew to sydney to train for one day and then on to Perth

We need to get on a roll now, so Ricky its time to ditch Paston, even the Aussie commentators are starting to laugh,.we do have a quality keeper on the bench, so whats the problem?

It appears that Moss may be carrying an injury, that's why we're seeing so much of Paston at the moment.

Isn't groan strain?

Looked pretty shakey on the weekend. I think what annoys people (or at least me) is the fact he is so tall, but doesn't dominate his box when crossess etc come in.

But as you say, has not really made a signifcant blunder (Berish'as goal was a bit soft, neither cam out or stayed back), nor has he made any real saves either.

Who would the team be more confident have playing behind them??

I don't think you need to go changing your keeper unless you've really got a problem.  Keep that back 5 together I say.  Might even start getting Leo involved in the attacks!  3 in the middle could help that as well.

I hope we do keep 3 centrally as has been indicated.  I watched the highlights again and for the first goal one of the key parts was the awesome cross-field pass to Ifill in space where he crossed from.  That ball was played by Lia and I'm not sure either Smith or Muscat could have hit that ball like he did there.

Breakers Lose with an 11.40 pm NZ time start in Perth! Coincidence or destiney?

And not by a small margin

BASKETBALL – AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE FEATURING BREAKERS

Thursday 22 November:

Perth Wildcats v New Zealand Breakers, Perth Arena 11:40pm (Commentary)