R13 vs Western Sydney Wed 9.00pm SS4

Overall mean stats mask the variation:

A statistician is someone who tells you, when you've got your head in the fridge and your feet in the oven, that you're – on average - very comfortable. (http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/dec/29/scientists-favourite-jokes)

His stats this season are rather less than "bloody good" and that's what needs to be further examined: Is this a "temporary dip in form" and we expect him to start banging them in again and go all Smeltz-like on us?  Or was last season the outlying blip and he will continue to struggle?

I still can't believe Brown had 23 goals and Bertos 8.

Does seem a lot for Leo doesn't it?

THE Prediction will be here later today.....

interesting stat would be percentages of winners and the percentage of consolation goals. Obviously considering last season that is going to go against Brockie.

We want 3, we want 3!! Three wins in a row that is....

Practically half his goals in the A-league came last season.

''He said it just popped out but popped back in straight away. He said it was a little bit uncomfortable but I don't think he's done any more major damage or anything. I think he'll have that issue for a while, that it may pop out. But he seems to think he'll be alright anyway.''

Hernandez is still managing a troublesome quad injury while the hard-working Huysegems is experiencing hamstring tightness.

A second dislocated shoulder suffered in Friday's win over the Melbourne Heart has Fenton facing a stint on the A-League sidelines.

Coach Ernie Merrick says there are a host of contenders to fill in at right back.

"We've got a number of midfielders, even Michael Boxall who's generally a centre back that could play at the right back position.

"Plus there's cover, we've brought across Josh Brindell-South. So we've got a number of options."

Brockie is an interesting case. He clearly has a knack for spectacular goals and last year he just randomly got more opportunities to score them. I think was in part due to to the scrappy way we played under Ricki combined with poor performances in general which meant that other teams' defenses backed off us a bit when they already had comfortable leads. Combined with a few regulation finishes and at least one flukey unintentional goal that was actually a cross which caught the wind he got a great tally. This year for the first time there's pressure on him to provide a lot of goals but at the same time the sort of scrappy half chances that he blasted into the top corner last year have dried up. Every season before this one he wasn't in the team primarily as a goal scorer with the possible exception of last year, and last year he had no pressure on him because he was on a roll and everything was falling his way.

Put simply I think the way we're playing this year hasn't helped create the sort of chances he enjoys and at the same time he's caved under pressure - he went to Toronto with the expectation that he'd score goals and he didn't, he's never scored for the AWs and then he missed a penalty in a WC qualifier, then he comes back to his club and everyone expects him to score like last year and he can't. Maybe a spell on the wing or something would help him because the pressure to score wouldn't be so great. Of course then we need another striker... But we need one of those anyway, especially if Brockie can't score.

Love to see the jbs out there.

As for brockie. Confidence is an amazing thing. You can train on strength, technique and fitness but you cant confidence. But have faith. I believe once he knocks in 1, more will flow from it. And he did score a beauty against wsw earlier this season. Which is encouraging. Maybe they are about to become his bunnies.

I tend to agree with Conan, brokie lived on scoring goals against the run of play or form areas that noone would think of trying.....now that our midfield and backs are working the ball forward better and getting the ball to feet he is having to get himself into "better" scoring positions - this is what he struggles at - being where the ball is going to be and then scoring. Stein does it better but lacks a bit of killer "shoot now" instinct. We need a stiker who can get into good position and shoot immediately or after a single good touch of the ball - currently we do not have this in any of our front men.

However Smeltz never had a long barren patch when he was at the Nix.

In terms of the others from 2009/10 to 2011/12 - the goal scoring was shared around Ifill, Greenie and Brown, plus good contributions from Dadi, Macalister and Sanchez.  So back then it didn't matter that no one was particularly prolific - we still got them on a regular basis and made the finals three years in a row.  

Arguably the toughest away game right now, as WSW look to hit their straps, guns comeback, and have clearly earmarked it as a game to win well. Test to see how we handle it, but hoping for a really good performance, and last chance for Brockie to fire before they call in the cavalry. Brockie has to start against WSW - with Boyd the impact player. Be doing really well to come away with points.

Referee: Lucien Laverdure

Oh bugga, he was the ref in the 0-0 draw at the Ring of Fire earlier this season.

OK Feverites, THE Prediction is here.....

The Blessed Ernie is on a roll, and the Phoenix is rising from the pyre of the start of the season.

 I predict the WSW orc-fans will look the other way, because they won't be able to stand watching us.....

Beating them, 2-0.

ALWAYS REMEMBER-

We are the Mighty Phoenix! We can beat Anybody!

Lucien Laverdure.Definitely sounds like an Evil Wizzard.

2-1 to us would be the go but any points will do

Article in the Doom Post quotes Dura talking about Boyd..."great talent ....but....Ernie asked him to get in behind but he PLAYED TO FEET so he sat out a few games"....if he does what he's told....will be a great asset..."

Anyone know what he means by "played to feet" in that context?  Its an expression I am not familiar with.

Sorry.....Dura actually said  "he was instructed to get in behind but he came to feet"  

What does that mean?

umm sounds like a misquote but maybe Dura's talking about Boyd's movement off the ball??  Coming to the ball carrier looking to receive and clogging up space, rather than setting up to receive behind the fullback?  

I suspect receiving the ball and trying to take a player on and failing rather than use his pace to get in behind defence or on outside

even a sheepdog would understand.... get in behind

So to sum up, Boyd was not listening to the coaching.

That's the first time Dura has called out one of his own. Interesting.

In my books that is an unusual call for a team captain - to hang out half-clean laundry in public. Boyd is still but a slip of a lad.

much confusion

such gusses

wow

Ernie Take Control

Ricki Wept!

Hernandez in doubt by the sounds of it.Getting xrays on a wrist.

"He must have fallen awkwardly at some point, I don't know if it was in the game [on Friday against Melbourne Heart] or in a training session, he didn't say much," Merrick said yesterday.

Was in the game Ernie pretty clear when he did it.Surprised coaching staff missed it.

On a side note it is refreshing to see the FFA act so swiftly in dealing with the growing issue of the WSW fans and their well documented hooligan element...

*rolls eyes*