R1 vs Adelaide United | Sun 8 Oct | 5:00pm | RoF

Ouch!

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/03/a-league-2017-18-preview-part-one-the-teams-bubbling-under

I agree, though. Our squad really hasn't improved. SkyBlues look to be even stronger this season also.

Sunday, 8 October 2017

Wellington Phoenix v Adelaide United

Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 2.Daniel MULLEN, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 4.Goran PARACKI, 6.Dylan FOX, 7.Gui FINKLER, 8.Dario VIDOSIC, 9.Andrija KALUDJEROVIC, 11.Hamish WATSON, 12.Adam PARKHOUSE, 13.Marco ROSSI, 14.Alex RUFER, 17.Ali ABBAS, 18.Sarpreet SINGH, 21.Roy KRISHNA, 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 24.Logan ROGERSON, 30.Keegan SMITH (gk)

**two to be omitted**

Unavailable: 10.Michael MCGLINCHEY (international duty – 1 week), 19.Thomas DOYLE (international duty – 1 week), 22.Andrew Durante (international duty – 1 week)

Adelaide United squad: 1.Daniel MARGUSH (gk), 2.Michael MARRONE, 5.Taylor REGAN, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.ISAÍAS (c), 9.Baba DIAWARA, 10.Karim MATMOUR, 11.Johan ABSALONSEN, 12.Mark OCHIENG, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIC, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 22.Ersan GÜLÜM, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 24.Jordan O'DOHERTY, 37.Daniel ADLUNG

**two to be omitted**

Unavailable: 6.Vince LIA (suspended - one week) 21.Tarek ELRICH (knee - long term)

Chris Beath is the Ref.

Smith

Galloway Mullen Rossi Abbas 

Paracki Ridenton 

Krishna Finkler Vidosic 

Kaludjerovic

vs

Diawara

Absalonsen Matmour Mileusnic

Isaias Adlung

Marrone Regan Gulum Garuccio

Izzo

Finkler vs Isaias will probably decide the game, we really need the good Finkler to turn up.

Anglo-Saxon players would generally seem to be inferior to players from Latin cultures etc.

Adelaide have only two players in their entire squad with English surnames (Blackwood and Elsey):

I ran all names in both squads through a language derivation program.

Adelaide United squad:

1.Daniel Margush (GK), 2.Michael Marrone, 5.Taylor Regan, 7.Ryan Kitto, 8.Isaías (c), 9.Baba Diawara, 10.Karim Matmour, 11.Johan Absalonsen, 12.Mark Ochieng, 14.George Blackwood, 16.Nathan Konstandopoulos, 17.Nikola Mileusnic, 19.Ben Garuccio, 20.Paul Izzo (GK), 22.Ersan Gülüm, 23.Jordan Elsey, 24.Jordan O'Doherty, 37.Daniel Adlung

(Two to be omitted)

Unavailable: 6. Vince Lia (suspended), 21. Tarek Elrich (knee - long term)

The Phoenix have seven - nuff said....

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 2.Daniel MULLEN, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 4.Goran PARACKI, 6.Dylan FOX, 7.Gui FINKLER, 8.Dario VIDOSIC, 9.Andrija KALUDJEROVIC, 11.Hamish WATSON, 12.Adam PARKHOUSE, 13.Marco ROSSI, 14.Alex RUFER, 17.Ali ABBAS, 18.Sarpreet SINGH, 21.Roy KRISHNA, 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 24.Logan ROGERSON, 30.Keegan SMITH (gk)

(Note that "Mullen" can have English OR Gaelic derivation - found in both cultures; Galloway is a district of Scotland and a Gaelic name)

Would certainly agree that our squad is more balanced - whether that translates to better results remains to be seen. 

Is there any point doing a goodbye banner for Vince Lia?

Team news says he's suspended, so presumably won't be travelling?

No banner. Lia isn't travelling over as was suspended for his 8th yellow with the Nix last season.

I, for one, would be interested in seeing how our backline performs without Durante.

More balance yes probably. More depth not so sure. As the other person says, what really matters is whether it translates into results, so I'll reserve judgement till later on.

Based on pre-season be careful what you wish for.

Durante has looked better in a 3/5 for the All Whites than in a back 4 in recent times

I am scared sharkless from hearing about Rossi's poor form during pre season.

No, he just looked down at the tee shirt with a sheepish look. If you are proud enough to wear one, get down to the stadium and get behind the team.

Hope this rain buggas off

I'm picking a close game with the Nix coming out on top.

I don't think that missing Durante, McGlinchey and Doyle will be overly detrimental to the team with the greater depth they have this year.

Players like Parkhouse and Watson on the bench which is where they should be (not starting like last season).

Adelaide lost their last pre-season game Friday last week at home to Melbourne City 2-0:

https://www.adelaideunited.com.au/news/reds-unbeat...

German coach for Adelaide vs. what is essentially a Dutch coach for the Nix should be an interesting battle of two equally disciplined approaches. Nix players were interviewed this week saying they find Darije's approach very "black and white" with greater certainty on what the coach wants than in the past, which they are enjoying more.

Phoenix just can't catch a break.

Hopefully it blows through early or breaks up... pax?

Can't see a big crowd rolling in then :(

Darije Kalezic confirms 18 y/o Keegan Smith will start in goal for the Phoenix tomorrow

So the kid gets a start aye? Raises a lot of questions for me

Now we have a new keeper coach that has some tickets and pedigree, is he seeing something the other coaches did not in Italiano, or is he a poo coach?

How does Italiano, an average keeper at best, feel knowing he is behind the 3rd keeper?

This kind validates my thinking on ‘we signed Sail?’ Again, we signed Sail?

This kid (and coach) has one shot to win fans. If he does ok tomorrow night, he will hardly get any stick. If he has a mare, both kid and coach(es) will get crucified.

So you’re saying we may have found our new Lia #Scapegoat 

My concern (which this seems to validate) was always more around the signing of Italiano with the intention of him being the number 1.  Signing a 21 year old as a back up seems ok to me, as he has a lot of development left.  Signing a 27 year old that isn't really up to it is a more questionable decision to me.

Managed to get 5 friends to come along (one a member)
#COYN

Game Day!

Fire Up!

Woohoo Gameday at last

COYN

Happy game day is finally hear, weather looks better than it was going to be with only light rain coming around 6pm now. Don’t forget our food drive for Wellington City Mission. We will be collecting on the concourse or you can drop of pregame at Backbencher. 

https://www.yellowfever.co.nz/categories/wellington-phoenix-discussion/topics/feverdreams-lfc-wgtn-wellington-city-mission-collection-8th-oct-top10forten?page=1#post_1203495

Nah, there would be too many awkward questions.

Will wait for the next time he comes.

FIRE UP!

bringing 3 from wanganui today so hopefully a good game so they are keen to come back for another few games.