Lining up with three at the back. Sheridan left, James and number 48, not sure who that is. Armiento and Payne wbs. Can't tell who's playing up front with Eze yet.
Lining up with three at the back. Sheridan left, James and number 48, not sure who that is. Armiento and Payne wbs. Can't tell who's playing up front with Eze yet.
#48 is Mac Munro.
How we looking?
Just saw this too...
Paulo Retre might be a late scratching here, looks like he got injured in the warm-up. https://t.co/FMX1t612NK
1 - 1. Didn't see who scored cos I was typing this lol. Thoughts so far. James looks a very good, big strong, fast and good on the ball. Eze not being entirely useless and has been tidy on the ball. Armiento left foot delivery very good. Payne looking fit and fast.
Lining up with three at the back. Sheridan left, James and number 48, not sure who that is. Armiento and Payne wbs. Can't tell who's playing up front with Eze yet.
#48 is Mac Munro.
How we looking?
Just saw this too...
Paulo Retre might be a late scratching here, looks like he got injured in the warm-up. https://t.co/FMX1t612NK
Lining up with three at the back. Sheridan left, James and number 48, not sure who that is. Armiento and Payne wbs. Can't tell who's playing up front with Eze yet.
#48 is Mac Munro.
How we looking?
Just saw this too...
Paulo Retre might be a late scratching here, looks like he got injured in the warm-up. https://t.co/FMX1t612NK
Nice confidence boost. Hopefully we can follow this up with some announcements about some games against A-League teams to take us towards mid October.
People on the ground, how was it to watch? I know the result doesnt mean much in the scheme of things, I just want to hear how we played - What worked, what didn't? Improvements + things to work on etc etc. 🙂
Finished 6-1. Think the 4th goal was an own goal but not really sure. Double for Eze. Najjarine scored a really nice one
Najjarine scored a bended shot around the keeper - was very well taken. I stopped posting updates as procrastinixing was doing a good job and every time I looked down at my phone something happened. 4th was an own goal, squared by across the face and would have been a tap in hatty for Eze had it not been a defender sliding in and booting it into his own net.
Thoughts on players: Eze: Runs around like a bit of a headless chicken at times, spends a lot of time on the ground complaining. Actually has pace, which was hard to see in the Australia cup. Didn't see either goal, had a few more chances too. Was pretty tidy on the ball, showed some neat skills a couple of times. When dropping deep, held up the ball well, always looked to quickly offload turn and run.
Payne: Thought he was very good, best player on the park first half. James was pinging some very accurate balls out to Payne in space on the right from his CB position. Looks very fit, fast and up for it.
Armiento: Very good left food, what I thought was his second was actually an oggie but it was hit like a bullet. Didn't see his first. Good delivery on corners too. Also has pace. Possibly looking like the fastest team the Nix have ever been able to field.
Cassidy: Don't know much about him but was very good first half. Very good on the ball, skillful, strong and good vision. Is he an academy player? If yes, you couldn't tell, looked the part alongside Rufs and Roa Conchie.
Rufs and Roa Conchie: Both solid enough without being spectacular in the heart of midfield.
Sheridan: Very quick for a CB, as is Hughes and James to be honest though. Ridiculously quick back 3 all round. Got caught in possession a couple of times but recovered well. Munro played on the other side of James first half, but was not at the level of Hughes or Sheridan (to be expected though).
Ishige: Worryingly anonymous, at least from where I was sitting, and went off injured around half time, looked like he might have pulled a hammy.
James: Looks the real deal, except he got told off for turning into the wrong car park when he turned up at the game. Excited to see how the backline functions with him, Sheridan and Hughes. Early days yet but I'd say an easy upgrade on Wootton.
Joshy: Apart from taking out the attacker for the pen, was good - some spectacular saves. Though I guess no one ever really doubted his shot stopping ability. Was never tested with high balls which I think is what mostly makes people nervous. No issues with the ball at his feet either, but with a back three there are more options for an easier pass.
Najjarine: I was impressed to be honest. Was very busy, always looking to get on the ball and probably had the most touches of anyone from the time he came on. He's two footed, with an eye for goal, and could potentially be one of our signings of the season if he's able to dictate play like that in the ALM.
Edwards: Looked OK, was very involved in the left WB position. Armiento moved central when Edwards came on and there was some nice interplay between the two of them and najjarine.
All up, really hard to tell how things are going to go in the ALM given we dominated a central league team, but it felt good to see a lot of positivity in the final third for a change. I think we have the pieces of a solid squad.
edit: another thought, the back three played a very high line and olympic had about 20 offside calls against them. possibly a worry against a better team if attackers are timing their runs well, but it does highlight the change in intent.
Thanks for the run down! Sounds like there is plenty to be positive about! Fingers crossed they get a couple of a league friendlies lined up and build up some momentum going into the season.
Finished 6-1. Think the 4th goal was an own goal but not really sure. Double for Eze. Najjarine scored a really nice one
Najjarine scored a bended shot around the keeper - was very well taken. I stopped posting updates as procrastinixing was doing a good job and every time I looked down at my phone something happened. 4th was an own goal, squared by across the face and would have been a tap in hatty for Eze had it not been a defender sliding in and booting it into his own net.
Thoughts on players: Eze: Runs around like a bit of a headless chicken at times, spends a lot of time on the ground complaining. Actually has pace, which was hard to see in the Australia cup. Didn't see either goal, had a few more chances too. Was pretty tidy on the ball, showed some neat skills a couple of times. When dropping deep, held up the ball well, always looked to quickly offload turn and run.
Payne: Thought he was very good, best player on the park first half. James was pinging some very accurate balls out to Payne in space on the right from his CB position. Looks very fit, fast and up for it.
Armiento: Very good left food, what I thought was his second was actually an oggie but it was hit like a bullet. Didn't see his first. Good delivery on corners too. Also has pace. Possibly looking like the fastest team the Nix have ever been able to field.
Cassidy: Don't know much about him but was very good first half. Very good on the ball, skillful, strong and good vision. Is he an academy player? If yes, you couldn't tell, looked the part alongside Rufs and Roa Conchie.
Rufs and Roa Conchie: Both solid enough without being spectacular in the heart of midfield.
Sheridan: Very quick for a CB, as is Hughes and James to be honest though. Ridiculously quick back 3 all round. Got caught in possession a couple of times but recovered well. Munro played on the other side of James first half, but was not at the level of Hughes or Sheridan (to be expected though).
Ishige: Worryingly anonymous, at least from where I was sitting, and went off injured around half time, looked like he might have pulled a hammy.
James: Looks the real deal, except he got told off for turning into the wrong car park when he turned up at the game. Excited to see how the backline functions with him, Sheridan and Hughes. Early days yet but I'd say an easy upgrade on Wootton.
Joshy: Apart from taking out the attacker for the pen, was good - some spectacular saves. Though I guess no one ever really doubted his shot stopping ability. Was never tested with high balls which I think is what mostly makes people nervous. No issues with the ball at his feet either, but with a back three there are more options for an easier pass.
Najjarine: I was impressed to be honest. Was very busy, always looking to get on the ball and probably had the most touches of anyone from the time he came on. He's two footed, with an eye for goal, and could potentially be one of our signings of the season if he's able to dictate play like that in the ALM.
Edwards: Looked OK, was very involved in the left WB position. Armiento moved central when Edwards came on and there was some nice interplay between the two of them and najjarine.
All up, really hard to tell how things are going to go in the ALM given we dominated a central league team, but it felt good to see a lot of positivity in the final third for a change. I think we have the pieces of a solid squad.
edit: another thought, the back three played a very high line and olympic had about 20 offside calls against them. possibly a worry against a better team if attackers are timing their runs well, but it does highlight the change in intent.
I agree with most of that, especially Payne, James and Armiento. James does look to dominate in the air. Potential for him to really bomb in some headers on attacking corners ALA Virgil Van Dyke at our level. I too was impressed with Najjarine, if they find him the correct role.
I am afraid that Aze is a still to be decided to be honest. He does have pace, although I reckon his first touch is poor and he got muscled off a bit too easy by a Central League defence. Took his two goals well though, especially the second, and I am hoping to be proved wrong. Still thinking he could end up being Jeffrey Sarpong v2.
Decent work out. Great crowd attendance. Eze scored a pearler of a goal in the second half. Payne put in some great low crosses. One was so hard, the defender just ran into it for a great own goal. Everyone involved in the day did a great job. And I got my own ST issues sorted and paid with the help of Sarah inside of 10 minutes. She is excellent to work with.
Well done Nix.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
