Pre-Season 2018/19 - vs Victory

Thought I'd open this year's pre season thread :-)

This article says:

"Keinzley was expecting Elliot to be unavailable for this weekend’s Central League clash with Havelock North Wanderers due to the Phoenix having a pre-season match...."

https://times-age.co.nz/elliot-eyes-phoenix-squad/

Does anyone know anything about a game this weekend?

not this weekend, but as there's a game against Miramar at Petone on Wednesday, Elliott's probably training with the Nix and not available for the rapa game today

Do we know if Taylor will be playing in these games?

I got the impression not but sounds like he's fit enough.

Look forward to some comments on the game tonight.

Someone give us a squad update please!

bumperoo

Per Phillip Rollo on twitter:

Phoenix starting 11: Smith, Lowry, Fox, Durante, Cacace, Hudson-Wihongi, Sinclair, Wallen, Singh, Elliot, De Jong.

Bench: Gulley, Parkhouse, Fenton, few academy boys

What position is Elliot?

Phoenix win 2-1. Scrappy second half. All the trial players looked decent. TAWH would be a solid addition especially if Rudan persists with two holding mids. Bleak for Parkhouse who didn’t get on.

— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) July 11, 2018

Parkhouse or Sylas??

I liked the look of De Jong too

Met Steven Taylor at the game - he was friendly.

Smith in goal didn't need to make a save ...

What about the goal he let in??

He missed a number of high balls and gave away a penalty. 

Yeah but apart from that...

haven't seen much of TAWH recently but he seemed just as promising as his more experienced noshow mates?

he is very very good, the only reason he's not already at the Phoenix or another pro club is the bad leg break he got the season before last

People I know at Auckland City liken him to a young Ivan Vicelich with the potential to be even better

nothing rhymes with Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi

Whichever way, one of his legs was closed for renovations for a while

He does belongi, does Hudson-Wihongi

Declan Edge, offers a different perspective

I thought Singh looked up for it most of the game, multiple good runs and shots blocked or narrowly missing aside from his goal.

Hilliar's one of his, right?

Where are Burns and Krishna?

Roy getting married, idk about Burns

So was Hilliar the best on the park then.

Burns was there wandering around with Doyle and Taylor.  Not sure if he was injured or just not needed for the match squad seeing as many of our triallists play front half of the field.

What a shame, looks like Declan just turned up just to  rubbish The Nix.

pretty sure no?

Hilliar is a Melville lad that went to Waitakere. Not one of his.

Or perhaps he just had a different opinion..

I know all Nix fans have been trained into being super-defensive, but we really have to try and get out of that mode imo; it's getting really old.