R18 v Newcastle Sun 9th Feb 7:00pm SS2

Nutpuncher out through suspension. As in Cunningham and Boxall.

Griffiths?  Suspended?  Never...

Now News won't bother to watch...

How many of ours are on 4 yellows? Riera and...

Michael Boxall 5

Kenny Cunningham 5

Manny Muscat 5

Jeremy Brockie 4

Albert Riera 4

Andrew Durante 3

Louis Fenton 3

Carlos Hernandez 3

Leo Bertos 2

Ben Sigmund 2

Tyler Boyd 1

Roy Krishna 1

Vince Lia 1

Jacob Spoonley 1

Thanks. Not so bad then. Dura and Carlos with some wiggle room.

I predict that Brockie will come good against his old club, as he often does. 2-1 to the mighty Nix.

Do people think Ernie will slot Brockie in for Cunningham? It seems a little unbalanced to me, back like the start of the season where we were trying to cram in too many strikers. Would prefer Hicks. And I guess Manny shifts across to bring Caira in.

Far out, Siggy with only 2 yellows for the season.  I'm genuinely shocked.  Go Siggy

I think one of the least mentioned but most significant impacts Ernie has had has been on on field professionalism (discipline). He made an interesting comment when Manny clocked up 5 yellows - to the effect that he'd got away with poor discipline in the past and clearly implying it (poor discipline) wasn't acceptable to him.

I think a fair bit of Lia's improvement (I never thought I'd be saying that) is that he now focuses on the value of possession of the ball and not trying to be some sort of "mid-field destroyer" giving away dopey fouls.

As an aside I think Brockie's game would benefit from a similar focus i.e. less whining to the ref at every call and worrying about twitter and hair cuts - the later 2 probably reflect my age.

Ernie said on the radio yesterday (cheers for the link George!) it would probably be Hicks for Kenny and Caira in at LB with Manny to RB. Seems pretty logical.

Except Boxall has managed to pick up 5 yellows in only 7 starts

So far we have picked up 40 yellows after 17 games for 2.35 yellows a game. Over the previous 4 seasons we picked up 58, 58, 46 and 51 yellows. That probably included finals, cant be bothered checking, but even at just 27 games that is a little bit less, 1.97 yellows a game. I do feel a few of them have been pretty soft this year, but I probably thought the same in previous years. I don't think there has been much of a change, but at least we haven't picked up a single red.

Keen to see caira in again, I thought he showed glimpses of what he can do eariler in the season. I like how the spine of the team has stayed effectively the same as last year. But they are playing as a new team.

yeah at least two of his yellows were actually fair tackles, but the little winger/striker's tumble was exagerated due to Boxall's 20+kg weight advantage. harsh on boxall to be hitting 5 at this stage. He'll be back. Will be interesting to see what Ernie does when Fenton returns to fitness - Boxall for mine has done a better job at rB - personally I prefer a defender learning to come forward than a winger learning to defend.

We'll do them in. 3-0.

The way Boxall has played at RB I'd say he'd go close to making the All Whites starting XI, but obviously it'll be Storm Roux and Bill Tuiloma to contest with 

Yeah, but Ricki.

Edit: forgot Ricki's a gone burger haha.

Looking at our upcoming matches it is entirely plausible that we can make a 2009/10 like surge of wins or draws and romp into the top 6 if not the top 4.

With that in mind I am picking that we will lose this game 1-2.

Two Words...

David Carney!!!

Hopefully the humidity doesn't hurt our performance again, what is the early forecasts like?

even not counting reserve/training games, 26 games in 45 years is not very much, and I would expect him to be a little rusty this weekend.

Good player.... nice to see him back in the A League.

Another 3 points here to make the top 6 and we can have a real push towards hopefully winning a home play off game.

I think Hicks will start for Cunningham

Is four kings open yet? If not, where are people watching it?

Not until may.

head down to the Pub ont he terrace

Good feeling about this one, I think we'll smash them.  Taggart's a good player and I like the long haired guy in central midfield who I thought was good in Napier but apart from that I think we'll be ok.  Will need plenty from Hicks to make up for Cunningham's defensive work and ability to break with the ball. Hope we get to see Ridenton as well, I like watching him

Ok who kidnapped JD and forced him to make an optimistic post? :o)

I agree with you

jinxy c*nts

I'm thinking a repeat of last time up in Newcastle 3-0 NIXs. Current for for us and them we surely have to be going into this game strong favourites. If we can keep tagget quite I don't see how they are going to score

Nix at Hunter Stadium P8 W4 D1 L3