R16 vs Newcastle Jets | Fri 24th Jan | 7:15pm | RoF/SS7

Nix coach Ufuk Talay confirms Alex Rufer won't be fit to play against Newcastle on Friday night.

He says his options to replace the suspended midfielder Matti Steinmann are Brandon Wilson, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi or possibly even Tim Payne.@radiosportnz @ALeague

— Jason Pine (@pineyzb) January 20, 2020

Ball reveals here that he was only to be used if needed on Saturday against the Roar.

Might not quite be ready to start on Friday against the Jets then, which is a worry. https://t.co/8EDSmHydCr

— Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) January 20, 2020

A few potential big misses here, but hope those that are called on step up, because they'll need to.

Edit, is the code still phoenix20 to get discounted tix?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/118926568/wellington-fog-delays-a-pain-in-the-hip-for-wellington-phoenixs-david-ball

Sounded like effectively a horror 11 hour return flight from Brisvegas.

Not sure if anyone knows, but if return flight hadn't been delayed would Wilson & TAHW have played for Weenix against Waitak on the Sunday?

Just curious as to whether Talay might have wanted them both to log some mins in that DM role, before this Friday. Given Steinmann is suspended.

It's not just that neither have started for Nix as a DM, it's also that both have barely played any minutes Handy Prem/A League the last month. Going to be a very interesting pick between those two, and Elliott (if they move Payne to DM).

Wouldn't Wilson have been suspended? TAHW is my pick for this weekend, unless we see Payne in CM and Elliot/Scott at RB.

Wilson was on the bench against the Roar. 

Yeah right, suspended from Handy Prem.

Expect to see this

I also think TAHW will start in DM next to Devlin and Payne will stay at RB. 
Elliot hasn't featured at all (maybe just in the cup IIRC?) with Uffie whereas TAHW has had a few sub appearances in the last few games which makes me think he'll get the nod.

If Ball isn't fit to start, I wonder if Sutton will be given a chance from the get go? Alternatively Waine - but he's more of an out and out striker like Hooper so not sure he'd fit the mold there.

Hope the weather stays nice!

21, fine with cloud, Northerlies expected

Just great we are playing our reserve side again, against an improved Jets team, we're never gonna win at this rate.  Jets 3-1.

The Royz we all love and cherish is back.

hopefully ball is 100% to start on friday

The weather isn't going to be an excuse not to go!  

thanks for not jinxing us again Royz and going back to betting against the Nix

A bit harsh. I think Steinmann will be the one we miss, let hope the replacement can step up.

McCowat and Sotirio are a concern, but both of these have massive room for improvement, so again lets hope that's the case.

Steinmann's replacement will be a very interesting call. My guess is that Uffie rates Wilson very highly, because he brought him in despite us having quite a lot of cover for the DM position. So I reckon he could well be the choice.

Maybe he thinks Wilson is an improvement over TAHW, but I would say that TAHW did not put a foot wrong in his few appearances for us when subbed on late in the game.

Really hope TAWH gets a run. He has had some retched luck with injuries in the past and I'm keen to see what he can do starting in his favoured position.  

Probably gonna see Wilson start ahead of TAWH. But would love to see TAWH given a shot at cdm this week.

I would prefer Scott in rb and payne in DM

I reckon Talay will leave Payne where he is - it aint broke why change it. Id expect that Devlin will play alongside TAHW to start and Wilson will come on between 65-75 mins.

Keeps the back 4 stable which is really important given Steinman is out.

I agree to keeping the same back 4. Not changing the formation too much is what Talay implied when he spoke on radio Sport yesterday.

Anyway Scott is a left footed LB. Not sure I'd be totally happy with him at RB. Would prefer Elliot if that was the case.

Ball sounds like he's not 100% yet. can see him starting on the bench and not being used unless totally necessary.

You'll also be pleased to know that Rollo is taking back over the reigns today, so normal service should resume :D

Bringing a few folk from work along for their first nix game

I reckon TAHW starting alongside Cammy. TAHW has had numerous appearances off the bench and done well, so obviously Ufuk trusts him. If not, maybe a combination of Wilson and TAHW, one on for about 60, the other for the remaining 30?

Have you never seen Scott play?

I have and thought he did very well

On the left hand side of the field, wasn't it? When Libby was suspended.

yes but the modern day footballer needs two feet

He was bang average

I'm certainly going to be very nervous when Cacace eventually leaves and he's the only LB in the squad.

This league is notoriously short on quality fullbacks, and I feel it would be wise to spend a visa spot there next season. If Talay thinks Scott is worth keeping around and developing, so be it, but we definitely need someone in front of him in the pecking order.

Think some of you are forgetting when Libby arrived on the scene he wasn't the footballer he know is. He was given a fair crack at it something some of dont seem prepared to give some other players. Yes he had shown plenty of potential just seems as some players get given an easier ride on here than others.

The thing is, we already have a RB backup playing because Payne is the backup to Fenton. I am delghted he proved to be a useful replacement and played throughout our 9 games unbeaten streak. I am not keen to move him away from this spot. The fewer unnecessary changes the better. Moving Payne now to DM means two changes (at DM and at RB) while playing someone else than Payne at DM means one change only. We already have Ball in recovery mode and Piscopo is not there.

Don't think Scott is quite the bombscare and lost cause that some people seem to think he is. He wasn't great, no arguing about that but, from what I saw, I don't know if I'd be sending him the plane ticket back to Aus just yet.

That said, can't see him starting on Friday, as others have said, Talay won't mess about with the back 4 unless he really has to. He's obviously a fan of Wilson but I'd be surprised if he gets the nod over TAHW for this week's game

yeah, Talay seems reasonable conservative when it comes to introducing new players - he seems to like to ease them in over a few weeks (which I like)

I seem to remember an interview with him after we'd lost a few games if he was going to make changes and he said: no, he believes that players need to play together to build up combinations.

Has Wilson played alongside Devlin at any youth international level? If not, it feels risky to debut him without any major game time, especially with a new group of players.

tbh, this is not worth debating. The most obvious choice is Wilson and TAWH will be on the bench.