R15 vs Melbourne Victory | Wed 10th Jan | 7:35pm | RoF | Kids go free

Fox equals Seamonster. 

Question for the next game is whether we stick with the 5 at the back or move to a 4

Back four IMO and it was nice to see a more positive Phoenix yesterday. Just a few comments / questions:

1) Will we see Rossi again in a Phoenix shirt? Seemed pretty unhappy when taken off and the performance of Fox (outstanding!) may suggest no.

2) I'm 50 / 50 on Ridenton. I feel that as a DM he is the best we have, apart from Paracki, which isn't saying much. As an AM he has moments but I'd rather have Singh. It seems, based on the comments here, that most fans don't like him, but in the Australia media he is regarded much more fondly.

3) I'm not convinced by Paracki. He is talented but it would be fair to say he hasn't lived up to expectations and he has had a few (a lot of) shockers, mixed in with a couple of quite good games. But he still seems not to get as much criticism as other players.

4) How good was Burns yesterday? A front three of him, Krishna and AK should cause a few teams headaches.

Interesting how two people can see things so differently. I totally disagree with 2 and 3 I think Paracki is one of the finest DM in the league. His work rate and accuracy are right up there with the best. Agree that he's had a couple of shockers, but let's be honest those can happen (especially in the early days). 

Also I don't think think the fans are against Singh. I think questions have been raised about his attitude, but from what I've read very few on here are actually qualified to assess. Would definitely like to see him more, but I'm not sure he could do what Riddenton does as he's not as strong physically or defensively.

I see Singh in the middle or on the win as part of the three who play just behind AK.

There was one piece of unfounded speculation that Singh was dropped because of attitude issues. The journalist who said that later admitted he had no idea but it was the only thing he could think of because the kid performed well.

Most people on here are constantly asking for him to get game time.

Sorry number 2 should read 'It seems, based on the comments here, that most fans don't like him (Ridenton), but in the Australia media he is regarded much more fondly.

Don't get me wrong. I hope Paracki turns it around and becomes one of the best players we have ever signed. But he has yet to dominate a game in my opinion and has yet to show that he can. Yes he has a great workrate (some of our other players could learn from him) but is his accuracy really that good. Also, I hope he eventually becomes the best DM in the A-league but would he even be considered a top-five DM in the league by anyone but Phoenix fans at the moment. Maybe, but he is IMO a level below a player like Isaias at the moment.

What was the attendence for last night anyway? Was not put up on the screen.

Imagine we will stick with the 5. Even prior to the send off, thought we were playing pretty OK.

Sounded like 10K.

Looked like less than 3,000. Shame with the weather. But normal attendees missed out on a decent match where despite the result, the Nix actually looked interested and made an effort to win..which they eventually did.

AK butchered 3 one on one's last night and has missed at least that much this season in previous games. 0 / 6 not good enough IMO.

Really? Paracki's shown how class he is on several occasions. I think part of the issue is that he's used to a different style of football (ie European) and that doesn't always translate here. Last night he made several tricky passes and our players just didn't anticipate them and he got frustrated. 

I appreviate he has t been a bit off recently, but you can say that about most players in the squad. Confidence plays a large part in how people perform

Agree with almost all of that, except our defence looked vulnerable still against a ten man Victory. I don't feel like rating Dura and Mullen et al too highly in a game where they didn't get put under consistent pressure and when they gave up another very weak goal. And looked brittle at other times I thought. Doyle mainly at fault for the goal, but hard to get excited by Dura's leadership and organisation when the cover for Doyle largely wasn't able to compensate for his error.

Great result, but that D is still a work in progress. Fox helped though and I thought I saw enough to say we can do without Rossi if Fox is fit. But still agree with Darije that the D still needs strengthening.

I could agree to a point on Dura's leadership on the park, since it's been a problem (in my eyes) in the first part of the season. However, I do not find much fault with his performance as a CB last night.  I would say that Kosta's goal was not a single player's fault.  Fox marked Berisha out of the game, but Doyle and Dura combined to give Kosta a chance. Italiano guessed wrongly and did not cover his near post. He should have saved it at the near post, but it was a fine shot from a good striker.

Having driven down from Palmerston North for the game I am pleased that I decided to attend. This was a reassuring performance from the team and has put to rest some of the concerns that I had regarding the game strategy and skill levels shown previously.

Burns and Krishna were attacking and creative on the wings. The new boy looked promising in midfield. He's a big lad and hopefully will add some physical presence in midfield which we have lacked.

I also thought it a good sign that we attempted some innovation at corners even though the execution left something to be desired.

All up a good effort from the boys and shows that we have the potential to be a good side. Let's see if the momentum continues on Saturday.

COYN

If AK could finish with his feet as well as he does with his head we wouldn't be able to afford him!

so true,

Not sure if mentioned previously (not that I could see), but the offside law already does give benefit of doubt to attacking team:

"If an AR is not totally sure about an offside offence, the flag should not be raised".

Though in reality I'm not sure that ARs actually do follow that.

effectively the flag should only be raised if you're absolutely certain the player is offside - which, in theory, is impossible

 Shark some of you are hard,thought Ljujic did okay for a first start like all new players he probably tried some things  in trying to impress team mates and  the fans. Where i was there plenty who went holy shark when he took that first shot.

Given he and Burns have had little time in training with the squad there were some very promising signs.

Yep things were far from perfect but im thankful i dont live in some of your worlds because shark sure some of you would moan no matter how good things got.

Before i start let me state im a Fox Fan

However something else i find interesting is that many were prepared to cast him a drift,yet on the back of one performance all is forgotton. As previously he needs to follow that performance up with more of the same. Sat behind the goal in the 2nd half and Berisha was getting well PO with him seems as if he really got under his skin.  

Funny how it seems

.... then we could also call him a flat track bully...

I would tune into that!

I was sitting in aisle 26. I thought Krishna was in an offside position the moment I saw it, then looked  to see if the AR would flag. Was tight call, but my instinct was just off -admitedly I wasn't perfectly in line.

I'm never going to AR at this level, but do at Central league, for what it's worth. I think the Offside call was right.

But he scored 5+ out of nothing. Funny how people spin things, just the guy some credit.

He's scored impossible headers and missed several relatively easy 1on1s. A bit strange. He should've had 3-4 goals from the last 3 games, and that's being generous.

Be interesting if he can take a pen, otherwise we might call him Brockie 2.0, score the hard goals, miss the easy ones.

Not saying I do't appreciate his goals, but he has missed some pretty good chances without criticism.

Personally i think he is a little limited, lacks pace, his work ethic is not huge and his finishing should be better.

Some of the other keepers or ex keepers on here might agree but I ,always used to fancy my chances as a keeper in a one on one situation. I'd think for a striker [or any outfielder] the pressure is on them to score is huge and if they know the keeper is coming the old pulse will be racing. I remember one game where my theory was severed shattered, Gary Pattison [I think his name was] from Stop Out left me holding my dick in my hand as he stopped, casually dribbled around me and slotted the ball home. I could only stand up and applaud.

Without commenting on other aspects, I would say his work ethic in the game on Wed night was commendable.

It could be, again, just due to Darije trying to stamp his mark on the team discipline, which seemed to me somewhat loose previously.

Classic Gary.

Lol..sort of like Heysegems but in reverse