R1 vs Brisbane Roar 5pm Sun 13th Oct ROF

It's too easy to blame our fullbacks. Can we not see that good footballers played out of position is a bad idea?

Thoughts on C-ham?

Cunningham looked ok, reasonable pace not a huge amount of skill, but pass mark for me

Thought hicks ot better and better as time went on

He should have scored when he muscled their cb off the ball

I'm more positive than negative. Very aggressive in defence compared to Ricki, won a lot of ball and really shut Brisbane down completely for long periods. Will need to be fitter across the team to play like that but it should come. Actually looked like a professional football team with the ball at times but I can see a bit of pain coming if we don't tidy it up at the back. 

I cast doubts over just how different the game plan was in preseason but I was wrong. It really is quite different even if the majority of the players and the formation are the same. I hope the fans have patience because I think there is a lot of improvement potential there.

Hahahahahaha fuck off you blind cunt.

Agree an unfit ifill is better than the majority of the squad fully fit and he can be a game changer. Was Stein born offside? Is he just so slow or lazy. Imo players who get caught consistenly offside are either a) lazy +\- slow, or b) ligthening quick and always looking to break the line

I liked the Hicks and Caira combo, although Caira faded in the second half he was pretty solid. Boxall was good, didn't really notice Adams so I can't judge. Kenny linked with carlos well and made some good runs, probably tried to beat defenders a little too much. Stien was good but his balls into the box were fucking atrocious, he seemed comfortable but I think like carlos lacked a bit of pace so had to hold up play instead of gunning it. Was pretty surprised both teams didn't pick up more cards. I think some people need to realize that its going to take a long time for the team to mold so don't expect huge things this season. Was pretty disappointed with the crowd, is it a sunday timing thing? because damn that looked like some nice weather and I expected more.

Gutted was my reaction.  We just don''t seem to treasure the ball as much as we should. Too many give aways in my opinion.  The Roar played a good wide game and had more pace on the wings than we did.  Man of the Match for me anyway was Manny.  Plays with lots of commitment and passion. Despite the two goals, we played with an aggressive defense which was good. Still gutted as I type this post... hate losing like that.

Please. Ifill is past hie used time date. The young blokes today did a great job and quite frankly we don't need him.

only got to watch the first half, but I was pretty impressed. I thought the new boys played well, without setting the scene of fire. beautiful ball that lead to the goal.

shame to lose it late, but the fact that we were more than just in the game up until the 90min mark with a few starters out is very promising(from the reports I've read). 

Carlos and Kenny seemed to work well, though both held the ball to long/tried to do to much.

Lia and moosecat were looking for fights, but when they couldnt find them they were descend enough to stop the roar mid field which was the big danger coming into the match.

spoonley did well.

but I reckon the best part of that match is the simple fact that the worlds longest off season is over and we have our boys back to watch! fucking loving it! 

Ps: if kenny had scored that one v one in the first half, he would've been an instant hero

I will add to that, that today showed he may not be missed as much as he has in the past (if the 1st half is anything to go by), but not past his used by date.

[edit]

Well, I like the new Nix better than the old Nix. Thought we'd get slaughtered, but was pleasantly surprised. Losing at the death sucks balls though.

My match Ratings here: 
http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/categories/wellington-phoenix-discussion/topics/nix-v-brisbane-ratch-matings

Very interested with people's thought as heard some very differing opinions. Love that we can have these debates again!

Just one general observation I had, for all the passing and flowing football Merrick has got the team playing and promoted, how was the goal scored? A long, cross-field ball, and a header for a toe-poke.

Obviously this shouldn't be the case for future games and it's just a one-off thing, but just thought it was worth noting - goals can still be scored via the old-fashioned methods if all goes awry. 

frustrating way to lose

football (esp first half) was well worth watching

I expect King K, Stein, the Jackal and I-I-Iffy to tear some teams apart this season

New nix were good value in first half..second half looked like pass the hot potatoe" with very little continuity or flow....it lacked creativity as well (Henandez and with Cunningham off) and I noted a few long balls again..albeit 2 found their mark.  Stein fell away second half....too much chasing in first half.  When Brisbane upped tha pace we went backwards.

Reira looked okay albeit as right back!  Cunningham okay but not that quick first half.

Still more fun than last year..

The only new things about the Nix were the kit, a few players and the fact that more than two people turned up to watch them on a Sunday afternoon. Still tactically inept.