can't disagree with those sentiments, his star quality has always been there - I just think Ernie has managed to unlock his potential better than Ricki ever did.
Queenslander 3x a year.
In an ironic sense, Muscat always looked after the new young players in his team and if he felt the referee wasn't protecting them, he dealt out a bit of bush justice. It was the one thing I did admire him for.
I remember Box making his debut for the All Whites a couple years ago against China at RB.
Thought he was very solid, remember being very impressed.
That was against China B. The team had a game a few days later in Honduras I think, so split the squad to play NZ (mostly hopefuls) and Honduras (mostly starters).
Boxall not so comfortable in the middle third when being pressured. Needs to be eased into A league games I think. Starting, like Boyd and possibly Riddenton might be a bit too ambitious at this stage.
Unfortunately injuries are going to require some changes. Can also see us picking up a few more before Carlos is back.
yung thug
I always rated Stein, Ricki did know what to do with him, that's a fact. Nice to see waffles get better and better.
All the youngster played good, but if we continue to play like we do, AND score, the final six is possible, then we need Carlos and an extra senior player to win the big games ahead of us.
Huysegems up there with the best in the A-League
That Wellington Phoenix is one of the five is not in itself a proclamation of title-winning credentials. After all, topsy-turvy Sydney FC is one of the three teams that have won four in a row.
The way Phoenix brought up its three, with a rousing trouncing of Western Sydney Wanderers at its home fortress of Pirtek Stadium, and doing so from having been a goal down, is more of an indicator that the men from New Zealand are starting to thrive under Ernie Merrick.
With the down-on-numbers Red and Black Bloc doing its best to yell away a collective New Year’s Eve hangover, the atmosphere at Parramatta was as impressively intimidating as ever when the home side went a goal up.
Enter Phoenix’s Belgian star Stein Huysegems, who single-handedly wrested back control of the game with an assist and two goals after being moved into a deeper-lying 'number 10' position by Merrick when he substituted Kenny Cunningham for Tyler Boyd.
The collection of letters comprising this bloke’s name may give commentators a headache worthy of the festive season, but that’s nothing on what he’s capable of doing to opposition defences, as the Wanderers will attest.
Given he’s played for Belgium at every age level and spent five years representing the senior team next to the likes of Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen and Moussa Dembele, Huysegems’s pedigree puts him up there with the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Besart Berisha and William Gallas in the A-League.
He backs it up on the field. Against the Wanderers Huysegems tracked back and played an influential role in setting up attacking plays alongside exciting young prospects Boyd and Matthew Ridenton.
His vision came to the fore with a cute assist for Boyd’s first goal, before chipping in with two attractive finishes of his own to kill off the Wanderers. His second goal marked his fourth in three games.
Whether or not Wanderers coach Tony Popovic’s over-hyped rotation of players had a role in the home side’s flat performance should not come into the debate about the quality of Phoenix’s enterprising attacking play, which will go some way to addressing attitudes towards Merrick's coaching.
If Phoenix’s preceding two wins over Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC were tentative, cautious, affairs this was a statement of intent against a lethargic team that may have been guilty of banking the cheque before it had arrived.
More fool the opponent that takes Phoenix lightly after this performance of high quality attack. Scarily so, given the normally reliable Jeremy Brockie had a rare off night.
The limelight that glares over the likes of Berisha and Del Piero may not quite reach across the ditch to Huysegems, but any doubts that the fleet-footed Belgian deserves to be considered among the best strikers in the A-League, were swiftly put to rest in the Wanderers game.
If Huysegems can stay fit, and Carlos Hernandez and Paul Ifill can get fit, Phoenix may just become the first team to post five wins on the trot.
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/tom-findlay/blog/1177632/Huysegems-up-there-with-the-best-in-the-A-Leagueto be fair, I think Brockie can find a role in this side
but clearly the blogger has not really been paying attention
Brockie is reliable though - we can always rely on him do nothing for approximately 85 minutes in football matches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe_B5CzbTJo - Caceres winning penalty v Perth - footage from the Fever Zone
to be fair, I think Brockie can find a role in this side
but clearly the blogger has not really been paying attention
That blogger also reckons that if ifill can get fit we might win five in a row. I.e. recover from his ruptured Achilles in the next ten days...
That blogger also reckons that if ifill can get fit we might win five in a row. I.e. recover from his ruptured Achilles in the next ten days...
I LOVE LAMP
Funny. Stein runs past all his team mates and goes straight to the physio
Thanx for clarifying who..I didnt see the logic of it at the time and in the article on home page Stein says he went to Merrick..must have got confused.
A small town in Europe........looking to bounce straight back up....well that aint going to happen
Brockie is reliable though - we can always rely on him do nothing for approximately 85 minutes in football matches.
yung thug
Like it or not, we still need more players. After all the euphoria dies down we need to take a long hard look - should our regulars get injured (Ifill, Fenton, Hernandez), who do we field in addition to a few youngsters (Rufer, Ridenton, Boyd) and Leo?
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Yep, and sure as eggs we will get more injuries along the way. Plus pick up a few yellow cards - not sure where we are on the tally re suspensions.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
Yep, and sure as eggs we will get more injuries along the way. Plus pick up a few yellow cards - not sure where we are on the tally re suspensions.
I take a blind guess and say that Riera is probably close to a another fifth???
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Yep, and sure as eggs we will get more injuries along the way. Plus pick up a few yellow cards - not sure where we are on the tally re suspensions.
I take a blind guess and say that Riera is probably close to a another fifth???
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
Wow....reading some of the Oz forums and 442 and the World Game sites the Nix are getting some amazing praise. lots of "thanks for beating WSW for us all" plus some rave reviews for Stein...some saying his goals where "Messi like". Even some on the Victory forums wishing they had picked up Boyd when Rojas left.
Also plenty of praise for Merrick. I must admit his man management skills are fantastic. Stein has attributed his form to Merrick. Lia is 10 times better than before. Boys has upped his game too. Ernie has also been brilliant with his subs. Moving Stein back to AM and bringing on Boyd and Ridinton was genius.
So are Ernies recent public comments about Brockie all part of his motivational plan too?. Last week he said Brockie need to do more than turn up for 5 minutes each game and try and score wonder goals. This week he said he needs to work on getting into positions to score tap in rather than 25 metre screamers. Is this all designed to fire up Brockie or is Ernie seriously running out of patience?. Stein had a goal drought but at least he was a vital part of the team effort. I am really struggling to see how Brockie fits in to Ernies game plan the way he is playing. I suspect he is going to need to pull out some really good performances very soon or he will be replaced by someone in the January transfer window.
Any one heard how young Rufer is progressing?...him and the Sherm must be the only squadies who have not got a run yet.
RBB not impressed with fans who left early.
Supporter For Ever - Keep The Faith - Foundation Member - Never Lets FAX Get In The Way Of A Good Yarn
RBB not impressed with fans who left early.
(My random morning after comments)
their fans all seemed to be good buggers. Had a yarn with quite a few and a fair few commented well done. Their drummers were good lads and couldn't beleive we didnt have drummers.
(My random morning after comments)
their fans all seemed to be good buggers. Had a yarn with quite a few and a fair few commented well done. Their drummers were good lads and couldn't beleive we didnt have drummers.
That has been a blind spot in YF support options right from the start. Most other supporter groups seem to have drummers involved somehow and the Sydney FC ones even feature in the A League promotional videos. I'm not surprised the RBB guys couldnt beleive we don't have drummers. There have been people keen to try it in the past and I know the Batucada guys were keen to try to work with the crowd chanting etc back when they used to be involved in the pre-match etc
I remember a rousing chorus of "you can stick your fucking drums up your ass" when some drummers started up in our season 1.
To be fair, it might not have actually been a "rousing chorus", but just me singing on my own. Also, it might not have been at a Phoenix match. There may have not even been any drums around at the time. I do remember enjoying myself/
All I do is make the stuff I would've liked
Reference things I wanna watch, reference girls I wanna bite
Now I'm firefly like a burning kite
And yousa fake fuck like a fleshlight
I remember a rousing chorus of "you can stick your fucking drums up your ass" when some drummers started up in our season 1.
To be fair, it might not have actually been a "rousing chorus", but just me singing on my own. Also, it might not have been at a Phoenix match. There may have not even been any drums around at the time. I do remember enjoying myself/
Leaving early pfft. Just shows what kind of supporters they are. Glory hunters.
Pretty much. Reading their forums is all about them and not the game and it's like people have committed a hanging offence leaving early.
Grumpy old bastard alert
Pretty much. Reading their forums is all about them and not the game and it's like people have committed a hanging offence leaving early.
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
Still smiling about the result. Amazing. Now the long wait until the next game...
Grumpy old bastard alert
Pretty much. Reading their forums is all about them and not the game and it's like people have committed a hanging offence leaving early.
I'm pretty sure most opf them just go to the game to chant their pre-rehearsed, pre-planned chants. I still don't get the Ponzi thing either - who in their right minds turns their backs on their team for 10 minutes????? Besides the fact that their chants are all about themselves and have little to no bearing on what is happening infront of them.
The make great noise true, but it is largely meaningless drivel, the crowds are brilliant but then the team is winning for the second season - I'd love to see how they go when they are losing (which will happen eventually)
Queenslander 3x a year.
Pretty much. Reading their forums is all about them and not the game and it's like people have committed a hanging offence leaving early.
I'm pretty sure most opf them just go to the game to chant their pre-rehearsed, pre-planned chants. I still don't get the Ponzi thing either - who in their right minds turns their backs on their team for 10 minutes????? Besides the fact that their chants are all about themselves and have little to no bearing on what is happening infront of them.
The make great noise true, but it is largely meaningless drivel, the crowds are brilliant but then the team is winning for the second season - I'd love to see how they go when they are losing (which will happen eventually)
My sentiments exactly!
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
A recent picture of the RRB and Lyall Gorman
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
I remember a rousing chorus of "you can stick your fucking drums up your ass" when some drummers started up in our season 1.
To be fair, it might not have actually been a "rousing chorus", but just me singing on my own. Also, it might not have been at a Phoenix match. There may have not even been any drums around at the time. I do remember enjoying myself/
Back to the game itself. That was just an excellent way to start 2014. Its been coming for a while now. I imagine Stein will get some pretty heavy marking from now on. I suspect with his dribbling skills that may actually suit him and at the same time maybe give Brockie and others like Boyd a bit more space. A very promising prospect....
It's no coincidence that since I've been back in NZ on holiday the nix have won all three of their matches after not winning all season #LuckyCharm
I remember a rousing chorus of "you can stick your fucking drums up your ass" when some drummers started up in our season 1.
To be fair, it might not have actually been a "rousing chorus", but just me singing on my own. Also, it might not have been at a Phoenix match. There may have not even been any drums around at the time. I do remember enjoying myself/
Everyone? Maybe some of the opinion-leading posters on this forum perhaps back in the early days - but plenty of people out in the wider supporter base and in the more general crowds liked how they added to the atmosphere at the time and other posters on the forums have noted so since at our away games. There was even a YF poll about it at the time where the majority of YF members responding thought they were worth including - in a controlled way. Like them or not its no coincidence that most other supporter groups for other clubs seem to include some drums - you can hear them at most of our away games. As Feverish said the Western Sydney guys couldn't beleive we don't have some. Its an interesting observation.
(My random morning after comments)
their fans all seemed to be good buggers. Had a yarn with quite a few and a fair few commented well done. Their drummers were good lads and couldn't beleive we didnt have drummers.
That has been a blind spot in YF support options right from the start. Most other supporter groups seem to have drummers involved somehow and the Sydney FC ones even feature in the A League promotional videos. I'm not surprised the RBB guys couldnt beleive we don't have drummers. There have been people keen to try it in the past and I know the Batucada guys were keen to try to work with the crowd chanting etc back when they used to be involved in the pre-match etc
Wellington is lucky to have the Batucada group - they might consider training a dedicated core of fans to drum at the game if they themselves do want to be "affiliated" with the Nix?
Would there be any issue with the Westpac Stadium admin regarding bringing in a drum or two to the game?
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
