R22 V Western Sydney Wanderers | Sun 17th March | 7pm | Westpac

Blessing in a way that Singh is suspended for this game, as it won't suit him. WSW will be in play-off mode and will really fancy their chances of strangling our midfield (as Sydney did) and winning quite well.

Our key card is Rudan. Can't see him allowing the complacency happen. Big job as the Mariners were so poor. Tactically Rudan will have the edge.

Am spreading the word to get our fair weather friends there. The crowd will be a key factor if they turn-up in droves, which the team deserves.

But OMG we need to start well - could be all over early if we don't start with intensity.

.

The main reason we lost to Sydney was due to reverting to the 5 at the back 2 defensive midfielders. That left 3 reamaining players to try and work a goal. The last time Singh was left out we were totally outplayed in the midfield and got a hammering. 

I hope we will still ... sing when we're winning

Bookies have WSW at $3.40 and Nix strong favourites at $2.10

WSW look like a good bet at those odds. Even with Baccus, Majok etc unavailable, Babbel can still put out a strong talented team, if he feels like it. They're definitely good enough to win.

Good to see Golec and Burgess get full games last week. Golec won everything in the air, and for mine his distribution is better than Kopa's and Doyle's. Apparently a threat at corners too.

Hoping to see:

               Kurto

 Taylor (Lowry)   Dura   Golec

Fenton Rufer  Mandi   Cacace

                 Burgess

   Krishna               Williams

Bench: Lowry (Elliot), Stensness, Sheridan, Kopa, Sail

Out: Burns (Elliot)

Golec is slower than a wet week, both with his distribution and movement.

I think we'll see Kopa on the park with Golec on the bench.  The biggest question for me is how you reshuffe the team if Mandi is tired after 60 min, as I am not keen to see Kopa moving up to Mandi's slot from CB.

Either drop Burgess deeper and bring Sheridan on, or there's Stensness on the bench who's apparently a DM?

So feeling nervous about this game. The win against WSW on 8th Jan was our first win in 10 tries over WSW, last win before that was the 5-2 Powell four goals game.

We have lost our last five home games against WSW, last home win was a 1-0 win back Dec 28, 2014.

Lastly, WSW are currently undefeated in last four matches.

For an important game to keep fourth place, this will be a real test of the teams and Rudan hungry for the finals.

Lots of talk over who to put in for singh so i'll just put this out, Nathan burns is also a CAM, fitness was all good but just lacking the confidence in front of goal so lost his spot to Williams but his passing game was still good then. Might be another option or at least bench in case Burgess struggles. This might be just me wanting Burns back in action and I do fell like Rudan is able to renew him now that rest of the team has settled unlike before when Rudans main focus was getting Nix season back on track. Mind you his is all dependent on how well hes trained and his hunger levels for getting back on the pitch

Kopa will be bench as midfield replacement if Mandi runs dry on gas or if Rufer needs sub, not that I want him there but we don't have another option, Burgess did well against CCM but that was a team who lost all confidence after 20mins, getting him to play DM against roly off the back of 1 good game against crap team seems very big risk.

Kopa will start, as a defensive unit we look and function better with him there, why stop this to solve a midfield problem that might occur at 60 mins?

Nitro Circus is in town tonight at the ring of fire..hoping the turf wont be too scratched for Sundays game. 

Golec did well and taylor back but also can't dispute the consistency side of things

Shout out to my boss for letting me know the game is on SUNDAY not Saturday. I fully would have rocked up to Westpac tomorrow night if he hadn’t done that. 

Not all heroes wear capes.

Been before to Nitro Circus, it will be off to one side and most will be off the pitch with very little maybe on the field, but they put down a lot of cover too

hes always been a wide or central striker and has played a CAM rolls in the past. I bring him up as an option because to replace singh we need someone who can hold the ball under presure, can find the runs of team mates and assist the attacks on the wings. Burgess looks good passing but I don't rate his ball holding and dribbling skills to fill such an important roll for 90mins. Have not seen enough of Sheridan to know if he could be effective as a CAM but he would bring more shoots and height.

Surely Burgess form in the last games deserves a start with Singh suspended. Burgess has shown he's good for 90min's.

I would like to see Sheridan get 30 minutes at least. Bring him on for Mandi if we are chasing the game.

If Taylor is fit then. Taylor Durante and Kopa in the back 3 I would have thought. 

Burgess played a DM roll with a lot less pressure, thats all good but singh is the heart of the attack, is it really wise to put that all on a new player

Don't think Burgess really played DM at all v CCM tbh

Singh is suspended, so he will go AM

He played rufers roll, didn't seem like he played a DM because CCM lost sprite and really did not threaten, not taking anything away from his passing but they made it easy for Nix to control the mid, even singhs dribble down the middle shocking, no one challenged him and he scuffed the shot but still scored

Is there any indication that the game might be called off due to safety concerns? I hear some large events (Polyfest in Auckland and I think Pride in Wellington) are being cancelled hence my question.

Even if the game goes ahead, I feel most of us will struggle to concentrate on anything other than yesterday's heart wrenching events in Chch.

Terrible tragedy but please keep the thread about the WSW game, there are other more appropriate threads elsewhere to discuss what happened in Chch and our feelings about it.
Kia kaha all

It’s mostly events that are happening today and are out in the open that are being cancelled. I imagine this will go ahead. 

Hopefully a moments silence will be observed. 

Nix have posted on Twitter saying game is on tomorrow, also there will be a minute silence before game and team will be wearing black arm bands. More maybe planned but will advise if and when confirmed.

I see mention of a Sister Cities Shield on the line for this game. What is that all about? And I wonder what it looks like?

A Wellington Vigil will be held tomorrow, Sunday, at 6pm at Te Ngākau Civic Square, the heart of our city.

We will be showing Wellington’s support for the victims and their families, our Muslim community and all citizens of Christchurch.

— Justin Lester (@justin_lester) March 15, 2019

If anyone is in town early for the game, you might be able to head along to this for a little bit and still make the kick off?

Black arm bands for fans as well?

Good idea. I will

Is it possible to arrange some sort of collection for the family of Atta Elayyan who was killed in the Mosque attack yesterday?

Atta was a goalkeeper for the NZ Futsal team and has made 19 appearances for the NZ Futsalwhites.

He was 33 years old and has a young family.

RIP Atta.

Story is on Stuff.

As a show of respect and unity with the Muslim community of New Zealand, at the 50 minute mark please join us in linking arms with your fellow feverites and singing Tūtira Mai. Stand as one.

Looking forward to the game. Sometimes I wonder why I care so much about 11 dudes I don't know kicking a ball around; I think it's because it provides a distraction and gives me something to look forward to compared to the negatives in my life or the world. 

Give the terrorist as little attention as possible (instead give it to the victims) and don't let cowardly acts like this scare you from living your life and enjoying the little things, such as the thrashing we will give Sydney B tomorrow.

Might pay to travel into town a little earlier than normal, there's a vigil downtown around 6pm. Could be a lot of traffic about.

Great idea. I was also thinking of a "we love you Christchurch (we do) ' remix for a chant, or 'stand up for Christchurch, stand up'.

anyone keen?

Yep. Sounds good too.

Sadly another person has passed away so now 50....so very very sad.  I like the Tutira Mai idea.

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