R21 V Central Coast Mariners | Sat 9th March | 9:50pm | SS4

Win by three and we go second. So we'll almost certainly lose.

*fourth

Whoops!

Bonus points for winning by 3 exactly

Really need to go all guns blazing for this one. Any news on Taylor, was it just a knock that kept him out of the Sydney game? Really hope the team work out how to play again. Can't give CCM an inch. Regardless of their current position. 

The way we couldn't cope with Sydney FC close attention to our players with the ball, reminded me that this is exactly what CCM does.  We seem to cope better with teams that play the ball not the man (but lately every team has largely worked out what makes us tick).

I'd like to see Sheridan and perhaps Burgess start. Shake things up a little bit.

Although, I'd prefer a way to have William and Sheridan on the pitch at the same time as I think Williams is offering more than Krishna right at this moment.

I believe that after this match (21st match) The 5 YC = suspension threshold is removed. Let me know if I'm wrong.

This could well dictate who plays and/or who gets subbed during the game. As we have 5 players on 4 yellow cards.

Krishna, Fenton, Singh, Taylor and Doyle.  Rufer has 8 YC and is suspended for this game.

I'm sure this will play a part in Rudan's thinking.

I want a win but in my heart of hearts am aware the nix have a 99% chance of bottling it.

Correct, after this game it goes to 8 yellow cards

Further to clause 5.2, unless otherwise specified in the A-League competition rules, a Player who accumulates the following number of Yellow Cards during the course of the Regular Season, must serve the following mandatory match suspensions: 

(a) for the period commencing from the Player’s Club’s first A-League Match to the Player’s Club’s 21st A-League Match of the Regular Season, five (5) Yellow Cards equates to a Mandatory Match Suspension one (1) match suspension; and 

(b) irrespective of whether a Player has received a Mandatory Match Suspension of one (1) match suspension under clause 5.3(a), eight (8) Yellow Cards during the Regular Season equates to a Mandatory Match Suspension of one (1) A-League Match suspension. For every three (3) Yellow Cards thereafter, a Mandatory Match Suspension of one (1) A-League Match.

With Rufer out I hope Rudan will play The Sheriff up top with Krishna and Williams either side. Mandi and Singh (or Burgess). Shows more attacking intent.

Just can't see Sheridan as anything, but a joker, who comes in at some stage during 2nd half, when needed.

Would love to be proved wrong.

I like the attacking intent with this line up and would like to see the sheriff get a good shift, but I can see Kopa going into DM and Golec into LCB.

With Sheridan and Burgess coming on in the second half for Krishna and Singh (As they both have 4YC and most YC given out in last 30 min of games)

CCM should win this easy, young hungry squad with nothing to lose against the Nix that haven't won a game for awhile.

3-1 to us, comfy win, played some good football last few games but been unlucky and deserve a result, though Rufer will be missed

Time to get back to winning ways and show the Jets that we are a force to be reckoned with. 1-2.

So your logic is that CCM should win as the Nix haven't won a game in a while? While CCM have.... ? I assume that was an anti-jinx rather than a serious prediction.

Just realised this game is away? Booooo gutted I was certain we'd be at home!

Seven games, they haven't won since their 2-1 win over City back on the 16th January.

The form of all teams laying 4 - 6 has been poor the last 5 weeks.

Based on our last game, how would we know the difference?

You know we belong together...

Can we fast forward this week to Saturday? I we please win!

Gianni Stensness has been elevated to the Phoenix first team following the potential season-ending injury to Dylan Fox. He could even make his debut against the Mariners this weekend. https://t.co/PGDazQgKaV

— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) March 5, 2019

Is he a midfielder or a CB?

Yes

Plays mostly as DM for WeeNix.

Looked decent in the Handy Prem Derby a few weeks back but man starting an A-League game would be quite different..

playing evens up the game count..winning would really make a difference.

"When no-one believes in you there's always a character in yourself that says 'we have to show ourselves'," Ole says. "Our motivation isn't to make history — it's to go through. These players aren't used to losing and we know at our best we can match them." #MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 5, 2019

"When no-one believes in you there's always a character in yourself that says 'we have to show ourselves'," Rudes says. "Our motivation isn't to make history — it's to go through. These players aren't used to losing and we know at our best we can match them." #Nix

"

"The way I look at it I'm going with more attacking players, I really want to have a go at them. Our mindset is one where we desperately want to put on a good performance, a strong performance, and individually you're backing yourself against the opponent, but I want to go with more attack-minded players and really go for it," he said.

"Everyone has got to step up now and irrespective of who you are you've got to perform now, it could be a young kid that performs in the academy or at training, but if you're going through the motions at training then it's not going to cut it. I dare say it there's going to be some surprises between now and the end of the season if certain players don't step up to the mark and perform."

"

No messing about with Rudes.

That would imply that Sheridan will be starting, with Singh dropping deeper- right?

Or perhaps even Burgess in for Singh, as Singh has been underperforming recently.

Could well be Burgess in for Singh, but although Burgess works real hard, he is not so good at that crucial link up play.

"Fudge the FFA" - #WPFC

Yeah kind of think the same. He's better as a winger for me - someone who gets up and down constantly.

'Certain players' - this could include Singh. Rudan was always pretty guarded when journalists invited him to praise Singh. I'm a Singh fan, but he tends to be a player of moments - can turn a game with a shot, dribble or through ball -  but doesn't contribute as much between moments; not so good at winning possession.

'More attacking players' - could be a change of formation, 4-3-3 or 3-4-3, e.g.

   Taylor Dura Golec

Fenton  Mandi  Singh  Cacace

    Williams Sheridan Krishna

That's an attacking lineup - at the cost of a weakness at DM.

Stensness added to the squad - didn't think he stood out even by Weenix standards. Kumsuz looked more talented.

Kopa for me has done some good defensive work, even made some nice runs, but lacks vision and creativity and looks uncomfortable on the ball. In his brief appearance, Golec looked good. And he's left footed.

Referee: Chris Beath
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Lindsay
Assistant Referee 2: Kearney Robinson
Fourth Official: Ben Abraham
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITS, 3.Jack CLISBY, 8.Michael McGLINCHEY, 11.Connor PAIN, 17.Peter KEKERIS, 18.Matt MILLAR, 22.Jacob MELLING, 23.Mario SHABOW, 24.Joe GAUCI (gk), 25.Jordan MURRAY, 26.Josh NISBET, 27.Charles M’MOMBWA, 28.Sam GRAHAM, 29.Stephen MALLON, 33.Lewis MILLER, 34.Michael GLASSOCK, 68.Jem KARACAN **two to be omitted**

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Filip KURTO (gk), 4.Mandi SOSA, 5.Ryan LOWRY, 7.Cillian SHERIDAN, 9.Nathan BURNS, 11.David WILLIAMS, 12.Antony GOLEC, 13.Liberato CACACE,15.Michal KOPZCYNSKI, 16.Louis FENTON, 17.Callan ELLIIOT, 18.Sarpreet SINGH, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21.Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE, 23.Max BURGESS, 27.Steven TAYLOR, 32.Gianni STENSNESS **two to be omitted**

Chris Beath... how's our record with him blowing the whistle?