I as trying to think what was lacking and I think it was "intensity". That's what the Phoenix were missing. In the first half ACFC had it and could have scored three but for Spoonley's heroics. In the second half ACFC sat deeper hoping to catch the Nix on the break primarily through lack of match fitness, and yet with plenty of possession the Nix midfield still didn't really put them under pressure. The solid ACFC defence wasn't greatly troubled by either Brockie or Stein. Part of that was due to a lack of defence splitting passes from a creative midfielder coupled with a lack of pace from your wide players. I was surprised because I thought you were really going to come on strong in the second half.
I just hope Hernandez can deliver high tempo creativity in midfield and Cunningham some accurate punch up front because I really don't think you can rely on the ageing injury prone legs of Ifill anymore.
To me you needed a Michael Essien type driving you forward, a role Chris Bale did well for ACFC. For all the talk of a DM being needed, I think you need a midfield general to drive the momentum. Where's Roy Keane when you need him. Someone to scare Brockie awake.
Careful you're starting to sound like a fan of ACFC and the Nix :)
It can happen.
Heaven's above Smithy, is there a cure? Will therapy help?
Actually I'd love the Phoenix to win the A League this season, then we can say we've beaten the A League champions - just a minute, didn't CCM win the title the year we beat them? Sorry, we've done that already. Seriously, I want all the NZ teams to do well. perhaps not WU because you've got to hate someone, don't you JV?