R16 vs Melbourne City | Sat 26 Jan | 7.35pm | Westpac Stadium

Really doubt that. It’d be either because Dura had a planned rest week anyway, or as someone else said with Taylor also being one yellow away from a suspension Dura taking one for the team so they don’t both end up suspended for the same game. 

Both valid reasons for a tactical suspension. And quite a smart thing to do. 

Was it definitely Steven Taylor's 4th yellow last night?

I haven't seen it on TV but we were in aisle 28 and from our one look at it, we were all surprised that play was allowed to carry on after Roy received the ball.

CCM away

WSW home

Jets home

Adelaide away

Roar away

City home

Perth away

Those 7 games are certainly easier than the 7 games before that, where there are 2 Vic and Sydney fixtures each, right?

Yes, picked them up against Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, and last night. He'll be on the park next week. 

Cheers.

I wrongly thought it was his third. Durante taking the suspension makes complete sense with Taylor getting onto four as well. Both of them getting suspended for the same match would not be cool.

I'll be interested to see whether Kopa/Fox/Lowry comes in as the CB, or if Taylor shifts inside and Kopa/Fox/Lowry plays as the RCB.

Curious to see how amplified Kopa's ball-distributing skills would be at the centre of defense, but i'd definitely prefer Taylor there and maybe Fox coming in instead - don't know if we can afford to have 2/3 CBs not actually being natural CBs

We've never really been a team to deliberately waste time like that, especially in the manner that Dura did. Taking a goal kick on Kurt's behalf? Yeah right!
Definitely a deliberate yellow. If you're going to have suspensions you might as well time them and get any advantage you can get out of the bad situation.
No different to a professional foul to stop a break away. I don't know if it's good) right but it's definitely better than potentially having Dura and Taylor out at the same time.
You could call it cynical I guess.

Not talking about Rudan's thoughts; talking about mine, and actual reality.

time wasting definitely a better way to get a yellow then kicking someone 

It is a wimps booking. 

care to elaborate on what you mean by that leg? 

I definitely do not expect to lose against Perth (although it is very possible). How many tests does this team have to pass before we finally realize we are a genuine chance at winning the competition.

Not one team has proven that they are definitely better than us. Fact.

I totally understand the hesitation in being confident with the phoenix, given our history. But for me, I know we can win any game, any where, any time.

Last time we played Perth, we completely outplayed them (and deserved to win). I am also confident our team will continue to improve more than others.

I'm picking a 4th place finish on the table and a Semi final appearance after winning a home playoff game. In fact I think anyone who genuinely follows this league, would say that this prediction is more likely than not likely.

Keep it going Rudan

Remind us again, who do you support? 

How about the "put a solid 90 minutes together, rather than one brilliant half and one lame half" test?

It's interesting that people used to be pilloried here for finding silver linings in the gloom; now we're pilloried for being realistic when we start believing our own hype.

Agree for sure, if Nix squad stays injury free. Can't remember the last time a player missed a game due to injury, even a niggle.

Current squad is skiny, as shown when either suspended players (Mandi & Rufer verus CCM), or rested players (2-3 regulars verus Sydney), weren't in the starting lineup. In both games Nix were poor in the first half especially.

Gonna be fascinating who Rudan signs in the next few days. Feel if they are the type of players, like Sheridan who are good enough to push for a bench spot as a minimum immediately - is going to be a huge plus.

Those players won't be easy to find, having to be either a Kiwi or Aussie.

Kopa missed a game and was on the bench for a couple more due to injury, but you're definitely right - think that was the only injury, this bunch is conditioned to perfection especially when you see how much players like Fenton, Williams, Krishna and Cacace bust a gut week in week out. Keen as hell to see who Rudan bolsters with, personally my fingers are crossed that TAHW's calf has healed as he'd be a fantastic utility.

Cool story bro. Don't answer the question then.

I'm not your bro and if you don't know the answer you are  obviously  not a football man. 

Chill out dude. I mean, just relax man. I'm just trying to find out why getting a yellow card for time wasting is wimpy. That's all buddy. 

It is wimpy because for me I would rather get booked for abusing the ref or kicking some bloke into touch.  Time wasting is pathetic. 

It is like getting a speeding ticket for 53 in a 50 area. You might as well be doing 60

Not surprising that fewer and fewer people come on here now. 

Because two people take pot shots at each other for a full page? Yeah, I agree. 

It was just a friendly reminder. I even made it in a Simpson GIF! 

But since you’re feeling the need to even criticise that....The last few posts were all good, but nobody wants to read a page of you two going back and forth saying ‘you can’t spell’ or simply replying “hahaha”. 

I've not watched Perth's previous games, but the past couple of results haven't been daunting.  I genuinely don't see why (apart from the travel), we couldn't get a result there.

yea fair call. My bad. 

Why would you do that though? What does it prove?

Lad, the mods up there trying to put the squabble to bed and you're trying to reopen it?

Seriously?

Quick, someone please open up the Perth thread. This one going nowhere good fast.

Perth will always be dangerous tactically under Poppa. For Rudan this is about showing he's just as good coach as all the other guys (as evidenced in his stoush with Corica). I expect competitive showing by the Nix and am not surprised by resting just Dura while also ensuring he was not still on 4 yellows afterwards.

I also appreciate Dura's good manners. If you desperately need to get a yellow you do not have to kick some poor sod in the groin to get it.  But I  will not add anything further to that particular topic.

Congratulations to the team... four players in team of the week. Libby. Dura. Sarpreet. Kurto. Makes us proud.

Didn't think Sarpreet had a great game to be fair - thought he got caught on the ball a little too much for me and his passing wasn't as good as normal.

The other three are well deserved.

I also think Rufer is hard done by having not made one yet - puts in a mountain of work week in week out.

Singh was easily one of our best in the first half, next to Libby. In the 2nd half, dropped off just like everyone else.

I saw Rufer got recognized in the Alex Tobin medal votes. He got names second best player of the game behind Kurto.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/alex-tobin-medal-neil-kilkenny-ola-toivonen-close-gap-on-roy-krishna/news-story/2c3c87e6b3cb9df83bc049f8ee6a234f