Respectfully disagree. Very shark service for Watto and Powell if I recall.....If Alex Smith had scored 3 from 3 you'd all have "Alex Smith COYN" tattoos. (Winky smiley face lol etc....)
What chu smokin paddy? Osaka said Watson wasnt making attacking runs or some crap. Our "slow short, pass thru a stacked, narrow defense at all costs" strategy meant watson and powell had piss poor service....
What chu smokin paddy? Osaka said Watson wasnt making attacking runs or some crap. Our "slow short, pass thru a stacked, narrow defense at all costs" strategy meant watson and powell had piss poor service....
Surely you can troll better than that Jeff???
are you really attempting to move from child like troll to polite, objective commentator in two posts???
Well considering where Watson was playing a few weeks ago, and that he's never been at Ajax or Celtic, I thought he did perfectly well. Sure he had a couple of heavy touches, but he also set up opportunities which were squandered. Since he's come in he's done well for us, and you can't expect him to be great every week. Doyle also was a bit off on his delivery, which both Watson and Powell have thrived on. I think Watson would have been better if Powell had been out there from the start and then, Ridenton or Louis had been brought on a little later.
As far as scapegoats go for that game, I don't think Watson would be my first choice at all.
Also, we were playing the top of the table and it showed. They had a game plan for us and socked it to us.
are you really attempting to move from child like troll to polite, objective commentator in two posts???
I thought the Nix had lots of fancy foreplay but no penetration.
Ernie is going to have to have a re-think.
I thought the Nix had lots of fancy foreplay but no penetration.
Ernie is going to have to have a re-think.
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
I don't think anyone is criticising people on here who don't go to games because of family or work or geography or anything like that. I think it's when people don't go but have no excuse other than the poor form or the club's attitude or something like that that people are getting wound up.
I don't want to tell people what they should do with their money and time - if people don't want to go to games then that's fine. Each to their own. But I do get pissed off if people who call themselves fans and were fighting to save the club and bitching about the FFA then just decide that because we are on a bad run of form they are going to stay home. Didn't the whole metrics/savethenix thing make us realise that the club is dependent not only on the goodwill of the FFA but on the support of the people of Wellington?
Yes we are in shark form. Yes this has been a frustrating season. Yes it is annoying to watch the team roll over meekly and get smashed by Adelaide. But this is the exact time when the club needs the fans. We need to keep getting good crowds. We need to have a great atmosphere so that if a random comes along they want to come back.
When results are going against us the casuals won't turn up to bolster the crowds. The publicity that the Nix in particular and football in NZ in general has had recently has been horrible, and we are fighting the start of the Super rugby season for public attention too. The only way we will maintain decent crowds at this point is if all the fans who are emotionally invested in this club get their arses through the gates at home games.
Plus bigger crowds drive the team on and make better results more likely!
It's simple for me. We are missing two starting strikers, to injury and to abject Sarpong-failure. We are missing our toughest defender and on field motivator. We had no club up to a couple of weeks ago and so could not address the problems in the January window.
Despite that we beat a team 5-1 that was otherwise about to go top of the League, in what was a performance when everything went right, but in which we also played pretty damn well. We then beat another club that was about to go top of the League, 2-1, in a performance that was a bit fortunate but throughout which the players worked their guts out, at home, in Dura's 200th game, to hold a lead that it looked like we'd loose every minute from around the 20 minute mark..
I'm not seeing guys not playing as hard as they can. I am seeing a team that has pretty big limitations right now that they simply cannot overcome every week, BUT that has nevertheless done us proud in a couple of yuuuuuuuuuge wins that no-one expected. So we then get towelled by the team that will likely win the League on current form, which had the sort of goal to shot ratio that we got against WSW and a few heads went down on the field. And we are frustrated here. I guess hardly surprising given the extent to which we'd over-performed the last few weeks.
Personally I enjoyed last nights game. Adelaide played some fantastic, clinical, fast, counter attacking football and they were very, very organised and disciplined in defence. They were worth watching. We had no-one with the skills, pace or luck to break down the sort of defence that our weakened team has had trouble breaking down all year. But we went closer several times than we have in other games. Surprised we lost? Not really. Dissapointed? Sure. Do we have a football team? Yes we do. With Ernie stating he is looking for two strikers and two defenders for next year, and with a ten year license do I think we'll be a much better team next year. Sure, I do. Sure, I hope we do.
I turned up last night. We didn't win. Shark happens.
Well considering where Watson was playing a few weeks ago, and that he's never been at Ajax or Celtic, I thought he did perfectly well. Sure he had a couple of heavy touches, but he also set up opportunities which were squandered. Since he's come in he's done well for us, and you can't expect him to be great every week. Doyle also was a bit off on his delivery, which both Watson and Powell have thrived on. I think Watson would have been better if Powell had been out there from the start and then, Ridenton or Louis had been brought on a little later.
As far as scapegoats go for that game, I don't think Watson would be my first choice at all.
Also, we were playing the top of the table and it showed. They had a game plan for us and socked it to us.
That's pretty much on the money for me. I do not expect Hamish Watson, an injury cover (temporary signing from ASB) player, to be Fornarolli- or Mooy-class game winner. We're making do in the attack with what we have due to Roy's injury and Sarpong turning out to be a dud signing. As a result we can have a surprise win like we did against Melbourne City, or a deserved win like we had against WSW. We did not, however, win against the Jets this season so why is everyone surprised that Adelaide, a team now clearly on ascendance, peaking at the right time of the season, beats us handsomely? We did not "lose" the game. They won the game on merit.
Criticising players like Watson who have not had much experience at that level is a bit hollow. Actually, I expected more from Roly and from McGlinchey last night; but even then I can't say they've "failed". Adelaide defence was well set up and we had few chances that we did not take. We leaked in a couple of well crafted well executed goals. Not the end of the world. End of story.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
We're utter dog sharke at the moment, but would still rather go along to games and watch said sharke then not have a team to support. Cause it could very well be the case in 4 years time and our crowds are as they are now.
Just a few months ago we would have turned up in droves to watch them play hopscotch, as a show of support, such was our angst about FFA conspiracy to get rid of us. Clearly club future is well and truly sorted, since some of us are now in a luxurious position of deciding not to attend the games because the team is not playing well.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
i dont think anyones gonna buy a season ticket to watch Rodriguez pass it sideways and everyone else pass it back to durante. Someone needs to tell ernie and the team that we are at home, there is no relegation, and you need to pit the bloody ball in the box to score goals.yeah Watson's touch wasnt great and powell fell over when he should have scored, but by and large our attack was pedestrian and predictable, and our crossing was diabolical. Our whole approach was negative and we got what that approach deserved.
Nix 22 points 5 games to go 2015/16
WSW 38 points 5 games to go
NCJ 26 points 6 games to go
Did either of these last 2 teams start the season with the threat of 0 future, no chance of signing new players in the off season with 1 year contracts. They had a 25 year future at the end of 2014/15.
Football is Football and now we have "TEN MORE YEARS" to start 2016/17. With owners who have battled long and hard to gt us there!
Supporter For Ever - Keep The Faith - Foundation Member - Never Lets FAX Get In The Way Of A Good Yarn
End of the day until the team can put on consistent performances at home like that against Adelaide earlier in the season or they can bring an away performance like that against WSW back home.Those turning up will mostly us faithful and really on what was served up on Saturday thats about all they deserve. The casuals and wagon jumpers just wont bother until some constancy is shown
We really need to become unbeatable at Wetpac and we need to attack and win in style at Wetpac. Then we might get an increase in numbers. But playing the ball back and forth across the field then back to Duro is not going to win anything......especially new fans.
I don't think anyone is criticising people on here who don't go to games because of family or work or geography or anything like that. I think it's when people don't go but have no excuse other than the poor form or the club's attitude or something like that that people are getting wound up.
I don't want to tell people what they should do with their money and time - if people don't want to go to games then that's fine. Each to their own. But I do get pissed off if people who call themselves fans and were fighting to save the club and bitching about the FFA then just decide that because we are on a bad run of form they are going to stay home. Didn't the whole metrics/savethenix thing make us realise that the club is dependent not only on the goodwill of the FFA but on the support of the people of Wellington?
Yes we are in shark form. Yes this has been a frustrating season. Yes it is annoying to watch the team roll over meekly and get smashed by Adelaide. But this is the exact time when the club needs the fans. We need to keep getting good crowds. We need to have a great atmosphere so that if a random comes along they want to come back.
When results are going against us the casuals won't turn up to bolster the crowds. The publicity that the Nix in particular and football in NZ in general has had recently has been horrible, and we are fighting the start of the Super rugby season for public attention too. The only way we will maintain decent crowds at this point is if all the fans who are emotionally invested in this club get their arses through the gates at home games.
Plus bigger crowds drive the team on and make better results more likely!
It's simple for me. We are missing two starting strikers, to injury and to abject Sarpong-failure. We are missing our toughest defender and on field motivator. We had no club up to a couple of weeks ago and so could not address the problems in the January window.
Despite that we beat a team 5-1 that was otherwise about to go top of the League, in what was a performance when everything went right, but in which we also played pretty damn well. We then beat another club that was about to go top of the League, 2-1, in a performance that was a bit fortunate but throughout which the players worked their guts out, at home, in Dura's 200th game, to hold a lead that it looked like we'd loose every minute from around the 20 minute mark..
I'm not seeing guys not playing as hard as they can. I am seeing a team that has pretty big limitations right now that they simply cannot overcome every week, BUT that has nevertheless done us proud in a couple of yuuuuuuuuuge wins that no-one expected. So we then get towelled by the team that will likely win the League on current form, which had the sort of goal to shot ratio that we got against WSW and a few heads went down on the field. And we are frustrated here. I guess hardly surprising given the extent to which we'd over-performed the last few weeks.
Personally I enjoyed last nights game. Adelaide played some fantastic, clinical, fast, counter attacking football and they were very, very organised and disciplined in defence. They were worth watching. We had no-one with the skills, pace or luck to break down the sort of defence that our weakened team has had trouble breaking down all year. But we went closer several times than we have in other games. Surprised we lost? Not really. Dissapointed? Sure. Do we have a football team? Yes we do. With Ernie stating he is looking for two strikers and two defenders for next year, and with a ten year license do I think we'll be a much better team next year. Sure, I do. Sure, I hope we do.
I turned up last night. We didn't win. Shark happens.
Magnificent post.
Interesting stats:
- Phoenix under Ernie with Nathan Burns - average ppg 1.55 (incl. one finals appearance)
- Phoenix under Ernie without Nathan Burns - average 1.13 ppg
Our recruitment has got to improve and frankly so does Merrick.
Normo's coming home
There have been mitigating circumstances for Ernie though in the years without burns.
First year apparently the team was a mess and Ernie had to build it from the ground up. So, because it was a rebuilding year finishing 9th with a few glimpses of potential was fine.
The second year he had a clean run (and Burns) and we did pretty well by our standards. So it's a pass - the club should have done better though but by the standards of the recent history of the club leading the league for a few rounds, and having a home semi was a good result.
This year there was the obvious issues with a license that took the focus of the players and probably effected recruitment. So he gets away with a bad result this year.
Next year he has to perform though as he will have a clear run at it (hopefully).
I don't think anyone is criticising people on here who don't go to games because of family or work or geography or anything like that. I think it's when people don't go but have no excuse other than the poor form or the club's attitude or something like that that people are getting wound up.
I don't want to tell people what they should do with their money and time - if people don't want to go to games then that's fine. Each to their own. But I do get pissed off if people who call themselves fans and were fighting to save the club and bitching about the FFA then just decide that because we are on a bad run of form they are going to stay home. Didn't the whole metrics/savethenix thing make us realise that the club is dependent not only on the goodwill of the FFA but on the support of the people of Wellington?
Yes we are in shark form. Yes this has been a frustrating season. Yes it is annoying to watch the team roll over meekly and get smashed by Adelaide. But this is the exact time when the club needs the fans. We need to keep getting good crowds. We need to have a great atmosphere so that if a random comes along they want to come back.
When results are going against us the casuals won't turn up to bolster the crowds. The publicity that the Nix in particular and football in NZ in general has had recently has been horrible, and we are fighting the start of the Super rugby season for public attention too. The only way we will maintain decent crowds at this point is if all the fans who are emotionally invested in this club get their arses through the gates at home games.
Plus bigger crowds drive the team on and make better results more likely!
It's simple for me. We are missing two starting strikers, to injury and to abject Sarpong-failure. We are missing our toughest defender and on field motivator. We had no club up to a couple of weeks ago and so could not address the problems in the January window.
Despite that we beat a team 5-1 that was otherwise about to go top of the League, in what was a performance when everything went right, but in which we also played pretty damn well. We then beat another club that was about to go top of the League, 2-1, in a performance that was a bit fortunate but throughout which the players worked their guts out, at home, in Dura's 200th game, to hold a lead that it looked like we'd loose every minute from around the 20 minute mark..
I'm not seeing guys not playing as hard as they can. I am seeing a team that has pretty big limitations right now that they simply cannot overcome every week, BUT that has nevertheless done us proud in a couple of yuuuuuuuuuge wins that no-one expected. So we then get towelled by the team that will likely win the League on current form, which had the sort of goal to shot ratio that we got against WSW and a few heads went down on the field. And we are frustrated here. I guess hardly surprising given the extent to which we'd over-performed the last few weeks.
Personally I enjoyed last nights game. Adelaide played some fantastic, clinical, fast, counter attacking football and they were very, very organised and disciplined in defence. They were worth watching. We had no-one with the skills, pace or luck to break down the sort of defence that our weakened team has had trouble breaking down all year. But we went closer several times than we have in other games. Surprised we lost? Not really. Dissapointed? Sure. Do we have a football team? Yes we do. With Ernie stating he is looking for two strikers and two defenders for next year, and with a ten year license do I think we'll be a much better team next year. Sure, I do. Sure, I hope we do.
I turned up last night. We didn't win. Shark happens.
Magnificent post.
Agree with most of this but we do not have a 10 year licence. We have a 4 year licence then a hurdle, then 3 plus another hurdle, then 3 more.
Kotahitanga. We are one.
There have been mitigating circumstances for Ernie though in the years without burns.
First year apparently the team was a mess and Ernie had to build it from the ground up. So, because it was a rebuilding year finishing 9th with a few glimpses of potential was fine.
The second year he had a clean run (and Burns) and we did pretty well by our standards. So it's a pass - the club should have done better though but by the standards of the recent history of the club leading the league for a few rounds, and having a home semi was a good result.
This year there was the obvious issues with a license that took the focus of the players and probably effected recruitment. So he gets away with a bad result this year.
Next year he has to perform though as he will have a clear run at it (hopefully).
True but he has kept on a relied upon plenty of those players from that first squad. In 3 seasons the only recruits that have really been successful are Bonevacia, Krishna and Burns. It is easy enough to give him a free pass for 2/3 seasons but it still feels to me like there is something not quite right with the way we recruit.
I was quite disappointed by his comments after the game, "team needs leaders", "we need a winning mentality", "we would be better if we had Ben Sigmund back" - these are all things that are within his control as coach to affect.
Also, why does he/the club get a free pass for replacing Nathan Burns with Sarpong who had scored 9 professional goals in 10 seasons?? Is that really just "bad luck" that didn't work out?
Normo's coming home
Interesting stats:
- Phoenix under Ernie with Nathan Burns - average ppg 1.55 (incl. one finals appearance)
- Phoenix under Ernie without Nathan Burns - average 1.13 ppg
Our recruitment has got to improve and frankly so does Merrick.
I think one issue that keeps getting overlooked (and I used to really bemoan this, until I just gave up), is that defensively we have been very poor - generally speaking - over the last four years.
Here are our defensive stats from the past 4 seasons:
2012/2013: 49 goals conceded in 27 games.
2013/2014: 51 goals conceded in 27 games.
2014/2015: 35 goals conceded in 27 games.
2015/2016: 42 goals conceded in 22 games (so on pace for close to 50/50+ again).
It is clearly no surprise that our best season has been where, on average, we managed to keep the opposing teams to around 1 goal a game. But that's an outlier in the pattern of the last 4 seasons - which has been that we give up close to 2 goals a game, and which makes it very difficult to be successful over the course of a whole season.
The thing is, to me, this problem was clear 3-4 years ago, and I was advocating a planned revamp of our backline (which has for too long relied on guys who have been great players for the club, but have pretty much all gone past their best days), but this hasn't happened. We did have Boxall, and that situation unfortunately couldn't be helped - but why we just don't seem to have been proactive on this front over the last 2-3 years is just unfathomable to me.
jesus if the people of wellington are not going along to support the team why the fudge am i bothering to travel. i know things are shark and all that but supporting a team means through shark times and good times. if everyone just gives up during the bad times what was the fudgeing point saving the nix get a grip people.
People can't go to every game because of life, work and other shark. Just fudgeing drop it.
never thought I'd say this but sorry real life is more important than the Nix. Sorry for those in the early days that I had a go at but I didn't understand anything. about attendance I really didn't
Shut it on here about about attending matches.
you need to take some valium and relax a little, i did not say anything about people with other things happening in their lives, work or other shark i was talking about the people saying they are not going because the team are playing shark so i will not shut it at all as i was not talking about the overall attendance if you do not understand what i am talking about ask a question do not get all uppity about it.
There have been mitigating circumstances for Ernie though in the years without burns.
First year apparently the team was a mess and Ernie had to build it from the ground up. So, because it was a rebuilding year finishing 9th with a few glimpses of potential was fine.
The second year he had a clean run (and Burns) and we did pretty well by our standards. So it's a pass - the club should have done better though but by the standards of the recent history of the club leading the league for a few rounds, and having a home semi was a good result.
This year there was the obvious issues with a license that took the focus of the players and probably effected recruitment. So he gets away with a bad result this year.
Next year he has to perform though as he will have a clear run at it (hopefully).
True but he has kept on a relied upon plenty of those players from that first squad. In 3 seasons the only recruits that have really been successful are Bonevacia, Krishna and Burns. It is easy enough to give him a free pass for 2/3 seasons but it still feels to me like there is something not quite right with the way we recruit.
I was quite disappointed by his comments after the game, "team needs leaders", "we need a winning mentality", "we would be better if we had Ben Sigmund back" - these are all things that are within his control as coach to affect.
Also, why does he/the club get a free pass for replacing Nathan Burns with Sarpong who had scored 9 professional goals in 10 seasons?? Is that really just "bad luck" that didn't work out?
Ernie seems to be a great man manager, and organiser - but seems to be tactically inflexible. I've been wondering if it's worthwhile looking at the club getting support for Ernie with a new assistant - and (despite how much we all love him) move Greeny to be the head coach of the youth team, or something similar.
I'm thinking about how much success the likes of Rado Vidosic has had as a technically focussed assistant coach first at roar and then at the victory, someone who can augment a coach that is a great man manager. Someone like Ramon maybe a good candidate, you would then be looking to transition Ramon to head coach after a couple of years and Ernie to technical director or similar.
Interesting stats:
- Phoenix under Ernie with Nathan Burns - average ppg 1.55 (incl. one finals appearance)
- Phoenix under Ernie without Nathan Burns - average 1.13 ppg
Our recruitment has got to improve and frankly so does Merrick.
I think one issue that keeps getting overlooked (and I used to really bemoan this, until I just gave up), is that defensively we have been very poor - generally speaking - over the last four years.
Here are our defensive stats from the past 4 seasons:
2012/2013: 49 goals conceded in 27 games.
2013/2014: 51 goals conceded in 27 games.
2014/2015: 35 goals conceded in 27 games.
2015/2016: 42 goals conceded in 22 games (so on pace for close to 50/50+ again).
It is clearly no surprise that our best season has been where, on average, we managed to keep the opposing teams to around 1 goal a game. But that's an outlier in the pattern of the last 4 seasons - which has been that we give up close to 2 goals a game, and which makes it very difficult to be successful over the course of a whole season.
The thing is, to me, this problem was clear 3-4 years ago, and I was advocating a planned revamp of our backline (which has for too long relied on guys who have been great players for the club, but have pretty much all gone past their best days), but this hasn't happened. We did have Boxall, and that situation unfortunately couldn't be helped - but why we just don't seem to have been proactive on this front over the last 2-3 years is just unfathomable to me.
1000%
Last year we kept it pretty tight for a while with Manny/Dura/Sigmund/Boxall. We lose Boxall who is both our RB and backup centre back and replace him with a kid from the state league! And our plan for LB is Tom Doyle. That is so ropey
Normo's coming home
There have been mitigating circumstances for Ernie though in the years without burns.
First year apparently the team was a mess and Ernie had to build it from the ground up. So, because it was a rebuilding year finishing 9th with a few glimpses of potential was fine.
The second year he had a clean run (and Burns) and we did pretty well by our standards. So it's a pass - the club should have done better though but by the standards of the recent history of the club leading the league for a few rounds, and having a home semi was a good result.
This year there was the obvious issues with a license that took the focus of the players and probably effected recruitment. So he gets away with a bad result this year.
Next year he has to perform though as he will have a clear run at it (hopefully).
True but he has kept on a relied upon plenty of those players from that first squad. In 3 seasons the only recruits that have really been successful are Bonevacia, Krishna and Burns. It is easy enough to give him a free pass for 2/3 seasons but it still feels to me like there is something not quite right with the way we recruit.
I was quite disappointed by his comments after the game, "team needs leaders", "we need a winning mentality", "we would be better if we had Ben Sigmund back" - these are all things that are within his control as coach to affect.
Also, why does he/the club get a free pass for replacing Nathan Burns with Sarpong who had scored 9 professional goals in 10 seasons?? Is that really just "bad luck" that didn't work out?
Because if your a player that has offers from multiple clubs and one club may not exist after the end of the season would you sign with that club or take the less risky offer?
It could be that Sarpong only came here because of Bonevacia putting in a good word and he was the best we could get.
Interesting stats:
- Phoenix under Ernie with Nathan Burns - average ppg 1.55 (incl. one finals appearance)
- Phoenix under Ernie without Nathan Burns - average 1.13 ppg
Our recruitment has got to improve and frankly so does Merrick.
I think one issue that keeps getting overlooked (and I used to really bemoan this, until I just gave up), is that defensively we have been very poor - generally speaking - over the last four years.
Here are our defensive stats from the past 4 seasons:
2012/2013: 49 goals conceded in 27 games.
2013/2014: 51 goals conceded in 27 games.
2014/2015: 35 goals conceded in 27 games.
2015/2016: 42 goals conceded in 22 games (so on pace for close to 50/50+ again).
It is clearly no surprise that our best season has been where, on average, we managed to keep the opposing teams to around 1 goal a game. But that's an outlier in the pattern of the last 4 seasons - which has been that we give up close to 2 goals a game, and which makes it very difficult to be successful over the course of a whole season.
The thing is, to me, this problem was clear 3-4 years ago, and I was advocating a planned revamp of our backline (which has for too long relied on guys who have been great players for the club, but have pretty much all gone past their best days), but this hasn't happened. We did have Boxall, and that situation unfortunately couldn't be helped - but why we just don't seem to have been proactive on this front over the last 2-3 years is just unfathomable to me.
1000%
Last year we kept it pretty tight for a while with Manny/Dura/Sigmund/Boxall. We lose Boxall who is both our RB and backup centre back and replace him with a kid from the state league! And our plan for LB is Tom Doyle. That is so ropey
Yep. I think it's far from a coincidence that our best defensive season over the last 4 years has been the one in which Boxall played a reasonably prominent role.
Interesting stats:
- Phoenix under Ernie with Nathan Burns - average ppg 1.55 (incl. one finals appearance)
- Phoenix under Ernie without Nathan Burns - average 1.13 ppg
Our recruitment has got to improve and frankly so does Merrick.
I think one issue that keeps getting overlooked (and I used to really bemoan this, until I just gave up), is that defensively we have been very poor - generally speaking - over the last four years.
Here are our defensive stats from the past 4 seasons:
2012/2013: 49 goals conceded in 27 games.
2013/2014: 51 goals conceded in 27 games.
2014/2015: 35 goals conceded in 27 games.
2015/2016: 42 goals conceded in 22 games (so on pace for close to 50/50+ again).
It is clearly no surprise that our best season has been where, on average, we managed to keep the opposing teams to around 1 goal a game. But that's an outlier in the pattern of the last 4 seasons - which has been that we give up close to 2 goals a game, and which makes it very difficult to be successful over the course of a whole season.
The thing is, to me, this problem was clear 3-4 years ago, and I was advocating a planned revamp of our backline (which has for too long relied on guys who have been great players for the club, but have pretty much all gone past their best days), but this hasn't happened. We did have Boxall, and that situation unfortunately couldn't be helped - but why we just don't seem to have been proactive on this front over the last 2-3 years is just unfathomable to me.
1000%
Last year we kept it pretty tight for a while with Manny/Dura/Sigmund/Boxall. We lose Boxall who is both our RB and backup centre back and replace him with a kid from the state league! And our plan for LB is Tom Doyle. That is so ropey
Where's 2B with the stats on games missed this season compared to previous seasons. A settled first XI would have fared a bit better.
Interesting stats:
- Phoenix under Ernie with Nathan Burns - average ppg 1.55 (incl. one finals appearance)
- Phoenix under Ernie without Nathan Burns - average 1.13 ppg
Our recruitment has got to improve and frankly so does Merrick.
I think one issue that keeps getting overlooked (and I used to really bemoan this, until I just gave up), is that defensively we have been very poor - generally speaking - over the last four years.
Here are our defensive stats from the past 4 seasons:
2012/2013: 49 goals conceded in 27 games.
2013/2014: 51 goals conceded in 27 games.
2014/2015: 35 goals conceded in 27 games.
2015/2016: 42 goals conceded in 22 games (so on pace for close to 50/50+ again).
It is clearly no surprise that our best season has been where, on average, we managed to keep the opposing teams to around 1 goal a game. But that's an outlier in the pattern of the last 4 seasons - which has been that we give up close to 2 goals a game, and which makes it very difficult to be successful over the course of a whole season.
The thing is, to me, this problem was clear 3-4 years ago, and I was advocating a planned revamp of our backline (which has for too long relied on guys who have been great players for the club, but have pretty much all gone past their best days), but this hasn't happened. We did have Boxall, and that situation unfortunately couldn't be helped - but why we just don't seem to have been proactive on this front over the last 2-3 years is just unfathomable to me.
1000%
Last year we kept it pretty tight for a while with Manny/Dura/Sigmund/Boxall. We lose Boxall who is both our RB and backup centre back and replace him with a kid from the state league! And our plan for LB is Tom Doyle. That is so ropey
Where's 2B with the stats on games missed this season compared to previous seasons. A settled first XI would have fared a bit better.
But wouldn't that just further illustrate the problem that I'm talking about? Expecting to get by with a backline that is, generally speaking, composed of 30+ year olds, with next to nothing behind them?
And how was that not a foreseeable problem?
There have been mitigating circumstances for Ernie though in the years without burns.
First year apparently the team was a mess and Ernie had to build it from the ground up. So, because it was a rebuilding year finishing 9th with a few glimpses of potential was fine.
The second year he had a clean run (and Burns) and we did pretty well by our standards. So it's a pass - the club should have done better though but by the standards of the recent history of the club leading the league for a few rounds, and having a home semi was a good result.
This year there was the obvious issues with a license that took the focus of the players and probably effected recruitment. So he gets away with a bad result this year.
Next year he has to perform though as he will have a clear run at it (hopefully).
True but he has kept on a relied upon plenty of those players from that first squad. In 3 seasons the only recruits that have really been successful are Bonevacia, Krishna and Burns. It is easy enough to give him a free pass for 2/3 seasons but it still feels to me like there is something not quite right with the way we recruit.
I was quite disappointed by his comments after the game, "team needs leaders", "we need a winning mentality", "we would be better if we had Ben Sigmund back" - these are all things that are within his control as coach to affect.
Also, why does he/the club get a free pass for replacing Nathan Burns with Sarpong who had scored 9 professional goals in 10 seasons?? Is that really just "bad luck" that didn't work out?
Ernie seems to be a great man manager, and organiser - but seems to be tactically inflexible. I've been wondering if it's worthwhile looking at the club getting support for Ernie with a new assistant - and (despite how much we all love him) move Greeny to be the head coach of the youth team, or something similar.
I'm thinking about how much success the likes of Rado Vidosic has had as a technically focussed assistant coach first at roar and then at the victory, someone who can augment a coach that is a great man manager. Someone like Ramon maybe a good candidate, you would then be looking to transition Ramon to head coach after a couple of years and Ernie to technical director or similar.
We also do change from week to week how we play. At time these changes are subtle but changes none the less
Usually though it ends up with us trying to move the ball through the midfield and then into a packed defensive box, but not as efficiently as other teams that try similar tactics.
Interesting stats:
- Phoenix under Ernie with Nathan Burns - average ppg 1.55 (incl. one finals appearance)
- Phoenix under Ernie without Nathan Burns - average 1.13 ppg
Our recruitment has got to improve and frankly so does Merrick.
I think one issue that keeps getting overlooked (and I used to really bemoan this, until I just gave up), is that defensively we have been very poor - generally speaking - over the last four years.
Here are our defensive stats from the past 4 seasons:
2012/2013: 49 goals conceded in 27 games.
2013/2014: 51 goals conceded in 27 games.
2014/2015: 35 goals conceded in 27 games.
2015/2016: 42 goals conceded in 22 games (so on pace for close to 50/50+ again).
It is clearly no surprise that our best season has been where, on average, we managed to keep the opposing teams to around 1 goal a game. But that's an outlier in the pattern of the last 4 seasons - which has been that we give up close to 2 goals a game, and which makes it very difficult to be successful over the course of a whole season.
The thing is, to me, this problem was clear 3-4 years ago, and I was advocating a planned revamp of our backline (which has for too long relied on guys who have been great players for the club, but have pretty much all gone past their best days), but this hasn't happened. We did have Boxall, and that situation unfortunately couldn't be helped - but why we just don't seem to have been proactive on this front over the last 2-3 years is just unfathomable to me.
1000%
Last year we kept it pretty tight for a while with Manny/Dura/Sigmund/Boxall. We lose Boxall who is both our RB and backup centre back and replace him with a kid from the state league! And our plan for LB is Tom Doyle. That is so ropey
Where's 2B with the stats on games missed this season compared to previous seasons. A settled first XI would have fared a bit better.
But wouldn't that just further illustrate the problem that I'm talking about? Expecting to get by with a backline that is, generally speaking, composed of 30+ year olds, with next to nothing behind them?
And how was that not a foreseeable problem?
IIRC Ernie was looking for a more experienced centre back in the offseason, but couldn't find a suitable option. So we had to go for Fox quite late in the piece. And with Siggy's injury, we had to blood him pretty quickly.
Losing Boxy to a massive salary offer was a pretty big hit for the succession plan. Not saying that is an excuse. Sometimes you can deal with these withing the contraints placed on you by the A-league. Sometimes you can't.
Losing Boxy to a massive salary offer was a pretty big hit for the succession plan. Not saying that is an excuse. Sometimes you can deal with these withing the contraints placed on you by the A-league. Sometimes you can't.
Yeah it was. But having both Dura and Siggy signed up until the end of this season since 2013 was not a smart move.
Interesting stats:
- Phoenix under Ernie with Nathan Burns - average ppg 1.55 (incl. one finals appearance)
- Phoenix under Ernie without Nathan Burns - average 1.13 ppg
Our recruitment has got to improve and frankly so does Merrick.
I think one issue that keeps getting overlooked (and I used to really bemoan this, until I just gave up), is that defensively we have been very poor - generally speaking - over the last four years.
Here are our defensive stats from the past 4 seasons:
2012/2013: 49 goals conceded in 27 games.
2013/2014: 51 goals conceded in 27 games.
2014/2015: 35 goals conceded in 27 games.
2015/2016: 42 goals conceded in 22 games (so on pace for close to 50/50+ again).
It is clearly no surprise that our best season has been where, on average, we managed to keep the opposing teams to around 1 goal a game. But that's an outlier in the pattern of the last 4 seasons - which has been that we give up close to 2 goals a game, and which makes it very difficult to be successful over the course of a whole season.
The thing is, to me, this problem was clear 3-4 years ago, and I was advocating a planned revamp of our backline (which has for too long relied on guys who have been great players for the club, but have pretty much all gone past their best days), but this hasn't happened. We did have Boxall, and that situation unfortunately couldn't be helped - but why we just don't seem to have been proactive on this front over the last 2-3 years is just unfathomable to me.
1000%
Last year we kept it pretty tight for a while with Manny/Dura/Sigmund/Boxall. We lose Boxall who is both our RB and backup centre back and replace him with a kid from the state league! And our plan for LB is Tom Doyle. That is so ropey
Where's 2B with the stats on games missed this season compared to previous seasons. A settled first XI would have fared a bit better.
But wouldn't that just further illustrate the problem that I'm talking about? Expecting to get by with a backline that is, generally speaking, composed of 30+ year olds, with next to nothing behind them?
And how was that not a foreseeable problem?
We obviously aren't spending as much as some clubs and there is a choice to be made on where to spend - do you spread it evenly over all areas of the squad, focus more on attack, focus more on a 'first XI'.
We obviously aren't spending as much as some clubs and there is a choice to be made on where to spend - do you spread it evenly over all areas of the squad, focus more on attack, focus more on a 'first XI'.
True, and that's the reality of our existence in this league.
But without knowing all the facts, I'd still hazard a guess that the backline in question probably carries a significant proportion of our salary cap, which is not necessarily commensurate with our defensive record over the last 4 years.
Still severely disappointed with that croud size though. I thought even with crap performances we would pull 7k+, but coming off the back of a good win and having just locked in that licence dropping below 7 has me sad.
Losing Boxy to a massive salary offer was a pretty big hit for the succession plan. Not saying that is an excuse. Sometimes you can deal with these withing the contraints placed on you by the A-league. Sometimes you can't.
Yeah it was. But having both Dura and Siggy signed up until the end of this season since 2013 was not a smart move.
Yeah he wasn't on contract so isn't that just bad planning?
Normo's coming home
Losing Boxy to a massive salary offer was a pretty big hit for the succession plan. Not saying that is an excuse. Sometimes you can deal with these withing the contraints placed on you by the A-league. Sometimes you can't.
Yeah it was. But having both Dura and Siggy signed up until the end of this season since 2013 was not a smart move.
Yeah he wasn't on contract so isn't that just bad planning?
Yeah, and he wasn't on a longer-term deal because the other (and much older) guys were.
