R2 vs Brisbane Roar | Sun 28th Oct | 7:00pm | SS3 | Four Kings

And none of them have scored from open play in 180 minutes (I don't count Krishna's penalty follow up). In fact I don't even think the three of them have come close to scoring? Don't see any reason why Mandi can't play 90 minutes every week. The defense, so far, looks as solid as it's ever been and with more of a threat up-front we are really going to have teams on the back-foot this season.

Spot on. I am not holding out hope that Burns will ever come good again, either.

With their investment and resources, the two Melbournes and Sydney should both be top four. Probably Adelaide would be favourites to be there as well. Regardless, we look like we will be competitive this season, which is all we can ask for after the past couple of seasons.

Main positives 

After two games we have conceded one goal and I would defy any defence or goal keeper in this league to have kept that one out. We have the best organised defence I can recall us having really ever.

We look fit and playing to a plan. Certainly last season, and most seasons in recent past, we would have lost today's game to a late goal.

We are creating lots of chances going forward.

Main Negative

We are not putting chances away. 

Also, how about that run from Dura near the end of the game? Wish that ended in a goal, that one.

It just feels nice to see that we have a clear plan defensively. It's not pretty going forward, but at the moment I don't really care too much - we clearly needed to fix things at the back first.

Another positive for me, after a certain amount of pre-season angst about the number of Kiwis in the squad we have started both games with six (OK yes I'm including Dura) in the starting lineup and all are performing creditably. Singh and Cacace are genuinely exciting prospects, Rufer is making big strides and Fenton and Doyle have been really strong in defence. 

I think it's important that young Kiwi players see that the Nix are not some dead end club that it's not worth being a part of. A moderately successful season with good Kiwi involvement should do a lot to turn this attitude round.

Clear that the team needs a proper striker but great to see how well the team has started considering the squad put together.  really dont understand why the club didnt go after djite or babalj both free agents capable in the a league.  djite espeically would make this team that much better up front

A game of virtuosity from defenders not attackers. 

Nice to see a couple of moments of Louis going forward, and good composure to secure possession at the end. Rufer is still doing alright. And Doyle for MOM?

Harsh on Burns- the team isn't set up to show case him and Krishna on a fast break quite as it was. 

ST - How I did it!

To be honest I am not that pissed that the Aerosmith front man missed this one. Iam absolutely chuffed to see the big man getting forward and being in the position to miss it. Positive signs for a long season ahead!

if you can forgive anyone for missing that, you can forgive your CB

That's a huge positive for me.  Fiveyoung kiwis in that starting lineup and all looked good.  Fenton, Rufer, Doyle, Cacace and Singh - good see them getting some faith and performing

Also how bad was that pitch.  Very hard to play football on

I feel like Taylor is giving Dura a new lease on life.  The last two seasons I thought he was on his way out and quickly.  Now with Taylor there, he looks fantastic.  I also loved the front footedness of Doyle,  another player who seems to be benefiting from strong players around him.  

Any thoughts on Burgess?  He has looked good for Sydney Olympic so may take some time to get up to speed.  I would love to see him get there.  

ST should be leading the Golden Boot. Would have left Roy on and done a double change of Burns and Nichols fwiw. 

Thought Dura was the Nix' best defender last year; still looks good. Doyle was massive last night. Burgess looked nervous on debut and patchy yesterday but still looks like a good player in the making. It's great to see Fenton and Lowry (who looked promising when last seen) get another chance.

Difficult conditions and many of the players were below their usual standard, notably Singh. Nichols did well again, maybe due some more game time.

I thought Burgess was a lot better in this cameo, actually - helped us drive forward, and was busy defensively. 

Rudes presser

https://www.a-league.com.au/video/full-press-confe...

I think 3 at the back suits him at this stage of his career. Doesn't have to cover as much ground. He certainly looked capable in a back 3 for the All Whites under Hudson. 

Looks like he doesn't feel he has to do everything, like he seemed to the last few years. Stay back, be solid - organise. Let Taylor yomp off.

It was interesting that having Rudan and Taylor suddenly gave us all the street cred that FOX commentators needed to find good things to say about the Nix.  They praised Singh and Cacace (for being "young, Kiwi and promising"), Kurto ("solid Euro keeper") and Krishna ("one of the most dangerous strikers in the A-League").  I could not believe I was listening to Brendan Speed and Nick Meredith rather than Ngata and de Jong.

It's almost as if it's all one big boys club and the commentators don't know what the fudge they're talking about eh.

Also re: Kurto; I am biting my tongue so far because I was convinced that it was a waste of an import spot. He's been really solid and looked very confident throughout both games. He inspires a confidence in the backline that I haven't had for many years.

I always thought that the "waste of an import spot" line was really a suggestion that goalkeepers aren't important. I only watched the second half of the first game but surely Kurto's got it in spades over Smith, Italiano, Sail or Tandoori Flappy.

Kurto's mix of composure and quiet confidence in his ability translates to the mood of the fans. Last season i was on the brink of a heart attack every time the ball went into the box. I know across the two games hes never been properly under the pump, but when he has been called into action he's been very sharp, looks the real deal. That back five in front of him looks like a wall at times too, I'm so glad we look like we finally have a quality back line.

I just listened to the post match interview, the more I hear from Rudan I feel more and more confident than I have for a very long time.

Looking forward to the game this weekend, will WSW coach be missing from the bemch?

From the post match, the GK coach comments to the Roar coach was interesting to hear as I'm sure a similar thing occured when the All Whites played Mexico at the confederations cup. 

Without doubt it is Rudan who has turned our defence around. The fact that he has always been a defender with over 300 games and was a key player when Sydney won the league in 2005/06. If you want to be successful you have to stop leaking goals which we have done in the last couple of years. Of course Taylor's experience has also made a big impact.

100%

Bald motherfudgeer!

[quote=Mainland FC]

It was interesting that having Rudan and Taylor suddenly gave us all the street cred that FOX commentators needed to find good things to say about the Nix.  They praised Singh and Cacace (for being young, Kiwi and promising), Kurto ("solid Euro keeper") and Krishna ("one of the most dangerous strikers in the A-League").  I could not believe I was listening to Brendan Speed and Nick Meredith rather than Ngata and de Jong.

[/quote

Perhaps it is because we are starting to look like a decent team. For the previous two seasons we were crap and it was hard to talk us up

I'll put my hand up as someone who since last season went right of Durante and wanted him out this season. I did used to be a big fan but I thought he was done. Please forgive me Dura! He's shown in the first two matches good performances and well being worth his place. As others have said, the defensive formation now probably helping in that regard, and maybe a rejuvenated culture helping too.

A lot of individuals had decent games but let themselves down once or twice with the odd sloppy bit of play. I was starting to get overwhelmed with how solid Rufer was until a couple of 'blips' in the second half. 

Krishna maybe went for goal at least once when could have played someone else in? That could've partly been due to it not working out when he tried to square it for Singh. And I think he's well within his rights to have attempts from tricky angles given he's capable of scoring at such times. Mandi with one or two very disappointed passes, and one bit of really disappointing interplay between Rufer/Mandi. Both relatively new to the league of course. 

Liked how Cacace battled on right until the end. He was down on the ground with 5 mins to go when we made last sub, but then at least once after that he succeeded when had to make an exertion. I imagine it's that sort of stuff that Rudan will particularly give credit for, and also what he has helped build in pre-season.

Only 2 games in, but we seem to have a really solid base of structure etc to build on. I've seen us look better at creating chances before etc, but looking decent in most areas at least, which is hopefully a good place to be to really go on and improve some dynamics, and also a fair few players going decent now that can up their game even more

Good to see more & more fans coming on board with Rudan, he's certainly been impressive. I thought a few comments about him pre-season were a bit unfair. I like how he has a good go at the officials etc, but also has a bit of a smile with them IE: Not a complete prick!

Early days, and maybe teams will work us out in some ways, will probably need a bit of luck as I don't see us yet being able to thump teams, so there'll be many tight games ahead, but hopefully more close wins than losses and can really push to a decent position.

Not really I wasn't there to witness either incidences but Rudan touched on it a bit in the post match how Aloisi was a bit upset by one of his staff. The nix GK coach must have said or done something to really piss-off one of the Aloisi bros. If he was the previous All Whites GK coach then it could be a similar situation to when he said or done something to piss-off the Mexican coach. Still have no idea what it is that was done or said though. 

There is generally less of a difference in skill levels between Aussie/NZ keepers v International keepers (who would bother to come to NZ) in comparison to players across the rest of the pitch - there is still a dearth of players in CM with good technique in NZ, for example, and a dearth of true goal scorers (except for Wood)

Also, where can I watch Rudan's post match presser?

The wrong Aloisi, you've got the wrong Aloisi

Rudan asking John 'what's that about mate' and pointing at Ross.

Rudan absolutely seeing Ross off. John actually gives up and wanders off lol

It wasn't just the "Roar coach" it was our first captain Ross Aloisi.