Pre-Season 2018/19 - vs Victory

Definitely a tricky preseason side that Victory. Even last season they finished reg season like a million points from top position. And I remember us flogging them upon Burns first or second run back mid season. But come finals time whatever they’re doing works pretty well obviously.

Highlights of Nix game v Victory 

Damn players are so small, I can't figure out who's on the ball.

1st chance. Krishna intercept who plays to Williams

1st goal. Krishna. 

2nd goal. Butters tackles Honda. Passes to Krishna. Fenton (?) shoots first. Falls to Butter. Who passes to ?. Deflection falls to Krishna.

3rd. Dura(?) tackles. Passes to Singh. Through ball to Krishna. 

promising play. Last goal in particular had a familiar look

Williams playing out on the left ?. Looks Sharp.

I hope Burns will start feeling sufficiently motivated now.

Ha ha, was this the first game after the FFA governance issue was resolved and we began to have a hope of a long-term future?

yeah happy with what I saw, two front men running into space, midfield finding them and all of sudden we have 2 vs the keeper.

long may this continue.

lovely turn by Singh

Any advances on this?

From the leadup to the second goal. Hard to tell.

Formation - three CBs, and looks like Dura in the middle.

Hint that Nichols played deeper alongside Rufer, with Singh as CAM.

Williams RF and Krishna LF initially, and swapped later.

The early chance - think the intercept might've been by Singh.

Second goal was a great team effort - Cacace and Singh press the MV player in possession, Nichols bustles Honda off the ball, plays to Williams, who sets up Fenton. Fenton's shot rebounds to Nichols, who jinks R, passes back to Fenton. Fenton glides past three MV defenders, and his L foot shot rebounds to Krishna, who taps in, with Cacace in close attendance. I think!

Looks like Fenton and Cacace played forward a lot, as wingers, knowing three strong CBs were covering. That allowed Williams and Krishna between them to get in to more central goal scoring positions.

Nichols and Fenton both prominent.

Last goal - Williams (who's two footed) on the left / Krishna on the right. It's all working.

COYN

In the test match a few weeks ago, Williams looked very skilled on the ball, Nichols had a great work rate, both will add a lot danger to our midfield and attack. Burns on the weekend did not do to much, looked liked a training match effort. It will be interesting who will be in the starting lineup.

Will this be the new season's look, with Williams, Krishna and Singh upfront?  

"Phoenix fields it's strongest lineup with Burns on the bench"

If Burns is dubbed only good enough to be on the bench... I take this as a positive.

This has probably been the best preseason we have had in terms of the quality of opposition. No excuses for a slow start this time around.

The downside of it has been the lack of chances to see the team play. Without the Home & Garden show game, they haven't even had a chance to play a game at the Stadium. Also means the Fever will be rather under done heading into the season, gonna be a few sore vocal cords on Labour Monday.

Think Newcastle United and Westham were reasonable quality opposition for an off season.

Yeah, that season was the best pre season - and coincidentally our best season for a long time.

Thinking the same thing. Whoever it was did a ton of work for that goal. Was also thinking that player looked pretty tired, head down struggled to break in to a run at times, and hung well back. Which fits with someone returning from injury.

Hard to be sure with the blurry little figures but I thought some of the other figures were different players too, as above.

Very happy with both signings.