Pre-season 2013/2014 - vs Phoenix B - Ring of Fire - Sunday

Really really impressive performance. Huge improvement than two days ago but perhaps the pitch played a big role in that. Was a much bigger crowd there than I anticipated.. maybe 200-300 or so at a wild guess. We held possession better than I've ever seen.. can't recall the defence hoof the ball upfield on one occasion and most of the team were trialists. Petone hardly touched the ball to be honest. 

Stand out for me at least in the first half was Rufer. He looks a real talent. Hudson and Adams were also very impressive. I really like the look of Adams. 

Only got down for the 2nd half, and was pretty hard to see much at ground level and with kids buzzing all over the place and trying to hold a conversation. Ha.

In the 2nd I was impressed by Fenton again at RB, he does a lot of work and makes a lot of options. Still not tested much defensively though. Stein very good up front, and was also impressed by the young guy with a beard in the middle, but I have no idea who he was... he ran a lot and made quite a bit happen. Lyndsay gave a bit of ball away from memory, but someone put a cracking long range shot on near the end that just went over, and it might have been him.

But yeah, much better performance than Tuesday, and really good to see us holding possession for long periods.

My thoughts on new faces:

Stevens: Short time on field before he went off but definitely looks to have a lot of potential and is super quick and mobile.

Hudson: Funny cause I was on the opposite side of the field so he was on other sde of the field and looked to make a few errors but obviously its hard to judge without much view. Just interesting that people said he was a standout.

Adams: Not the best RB. Siggy was rarking him up a lot to push forward. Definitely better at CB for me. Has good composure.

Rufer: Looks good on the ball and has pretty good vision for his age. I like his go-forward attitude, whether he carries it forward or takes the riskier forward pass option.Seemed to shrug off a few challenges quite easily.

Caira: Pushed forward well and very mobile getting forward and glided past players and got around the keeper well. Wasn't tested much defensively but seemed decent.

Lewis: Not as influential as other youngsters but seemed to push forward well and had a decent shot.

Lindsay: Quick goal when he came on then pretty much invisible. The more I see of him recently, the more I start to think he's not going to step up unfortunately.

Other youngsters like Gulley, Watson and Bertsch were all solid.
Hard to see Fenton on my side, but showed his pace on a few occassions but definitely doesn't come across as confident as he is further up the park.

A bit gutted I didn't see more of Carlos tonight

I was on Hudson's side and he made some really good runs in the first half. Got into some major space, but the ball rarely got to him. Very impressed by his runs though.

Good balls in as well. Really ripped them in at a difficult heightand depth for the keeper and Clarke isn't rubbish.

Was impressed with a couple of the young guys sorry havnt got clue who they were and those around me wernt much help.If thats the style Ernie and the players are going to stick with it will do me.Plenty of talk from the players about keeping the ball down,buggar all of the hoof balls to clear from the back.Couple of nicely constructed goals and some bloody good crosses.

Who was the guy who played on the left at the back in the first half. 

Some good craic tonight. Quite taken by the guess the crowd stuff. It was 200-300 or 500-600 or 'about 1,000'...   in any case, great turn out.

arf!

Yeah great. Good to see so much pre season interest and support. 

Some wildly different opinions on the performances from the youngsters, wish I'd seen it for my own eyes.

What were Stein's goals like?

To be encouraged. Certainly one of the benefits of a decent floodlit pitch in the valley with  facilities for spectators before during and after the game. Good surface too. With the possibility of four Central League teams form the HV next year, the region certainly deserves these games. Lid on the stand, adjustment of lighting to get rid of dark spots and an extended balcony would top it off.

Is Bertsch for the academy only? Does he have a chance to play? He is an import, right?

Last I heard he was working on elligibility for NZ in an effort to make the last U-20 squad.  Don't know what has happened since.

Clubbies were open so no need.

Obviously it's great that Huysegems is scoring goals. We'd all be up in arms if he wasn't. I'd also like to point out how on fire Brockie was last pre season and how sceptical people (including myself) were about him translating that to the season proper. I believe goal scoring is a confidence/momentum thing so it's great he's knocking them in and I'll definitely be keen to throw a wee wager on him being top scorer for the season.

Yeah I'm with you, I really hope he does well and he seems to be thriving under Ernie.

When are the next preseason gmes?

Should have a salute to the top scorers after certain stages of the season or something- make a bit of a public contest out of the race for the 'Nix golden boot and assist leader... 

last I heard is that the Nix have next week off? Could be wrong on this but I recall someone saying that..

no kenny on that poll ...