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

You have to just love the attitude Ernie has instilled in the team - depleted squad, youngsters starting and on the bench, away in hot conditions - do they play conservative - no way they take it to the Jets from the kick-off.

I thought we were good for the win and showed great character when the Jets equalised twice - heads never went down.

and Manny, buy a lotto ticket, you are very very lucky to be playing this week.

“When I first met the guys I said you are the nicest bunch of losers I have ever met, and now I am saying they are the nicest bunch of winners I have ever met” - Ernie.

Yeah, I get it. At first I wondered how that squared with our old reputation as being a bunch of overphysical munters, but in retrospect the old Nix culture really was one of "recognize your limitations and play within them, you'd rather be lovable losers than nasty winners".

Not a pretty win, but still a win. Ernie for 'A-League Coach Of The Year', anyone? That man is not only an excellent coach, but a class act in every sense.

Did anyone catch Tv1 sports for the highlights, seems they used someone in the crowds handycam footage.  Atrocious. 

Agreed with every word. When I think back to the level of despondency after Iffy was stretchered off, after the first couple of games, after we seemingly could not win for months.....then compare it to this performance. We won. Away. With several key players missing.

Ernie is a phenomenal coach, he's got the lads thinking right, which is 80% of winning in any endeavour.

Remember all the years of "Ah well, we never win away...".?

Pfft!

Gone for good.

As I have been known to say in the past (although now I say it with added vitamins)

Remember! We are The Mighty Phoenix! We can beat Anyone!

Love how the whole squad seems to have been involved. Ernie has blooded all the players at one time or another and expects them to be capable of doing a job for the first team. There also doesn't seem to be a strict hierachy of preference in the squad. Hicks, Ridenton, Rufer, JBS, Caira, Khrisna, Brockie, Adams (though he clearly seems out of favour now) have all had game time this season and some have been brought on during crucial games and performed. 

I guess it saves money, they just film sky sports with their phone then play it on TV One

http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/hicks-scores-phoenix-winner-video-5827615

My gosh that's terrible. Thought Skygo can actually look that that at times. Really poor.

belter of a goal though however you watch it.

Is there anywhere I can catch a reply or a highlights package? I've been trawling the sky tv guide but can't see anything coming up .. :(

I finally got to watch the game last night after work. It wasnt a bad game as such, seen worse. All 5 goals were good. Nice bend on the ball by Hicks. Well done young fella. I thought the ginger kept his composure quite well considering some of the stick he was getting. Top marks to Lia for getting involved. Considering the debuts and other new young players Ernie has given a chance to, I'm very happy. No one has really let the team down as such even our former left back had a decent enough game in midfield. The players have now shown themselves to show some heart, time for the fans to reciprocate by attending our ladt three home games before the playoffs. Together we can do it!

Interestingly someone in the A-League said to me Mulvey is awful as a coach and is carried by Luc Trani and the fact that they have recruited better than any other team in the league.

Trani was doing the proper coaching when we were at our best. Why the club let him go god only knows.

I agree. Trani was a big loss - excellent assistant coach. Not sure if good enough yet to run the show as the head coach though.

hard to bag his results and development of the yoof.

It was someone Gold Coast related who said it to me and that is where his yoof reputation came from.

#MulveyOut

I spoke to him when they played at the Stadium late last year, he told me he really enjoyed his time here for the most part. Always aapproachable and very much in love with the game and learning new things to try within it. If we ever lose Merrick, I'd love Luci to come back as the main man.

And silences all the negative pricks

(except Steve-O)

Hicks kicks Nix outta mix into six. Nix pricks look like dicks.

Fixed.