R23 vs WSW | Sun 19th March | 9:00pm | SS2

Get your 6 pointer cliches in now.

Also, it's the Phoenix 10th birthday

Phoenix 10 WSW 0 would be a nice way to celebrate.

I wonder if a certain Blake Powell is available on a one game loan? 

Back home.

So why is this a split round? Surely it can't be for an international break?

Think its due to the Asian Champions League games

I hope we win

Not sure what to say if this is true. 

Shame the Jets did not qualify.

Oh so they do a split round for the ACL but can't delay the Newcastle game for us? Fckwits. Hope these rumours about them not having control of the A league long term come true.

It's not rumors, it's a FIFA enforced change.

They will still have a large say in the A-League though, it's just the clubs will also have a say.

So to clarify for the slow ones, or at least me;

FFA  have split R23 to help with ACL ( if so good move IMO)

FFA will not adjust fixtures for FIFA Windows though

weve had a draw, a loss now its time to beat wsw.. nix 2 other team 0

Football will be the winner on the night

My head will explode because some teams will have played more games than others

Is that likely to mean they like the Nix more or even less though?

As was revealed in the #SaveTheNix campaign, the other club owners have respect for WelNix and what they and the club bring to the league, for example, not needing to be financially bailed out and generally running a tight ship. It was the FFA trying to get rid of us in favour of the Cronulla Riots.

Who knows, the clubs might like the nix because they aren't competing with them for domestic revenue, or they may dislike them because they increase the cost of the competition and potentially cut back on what Fox is willing to pay for ten teams.

The clubs were pretty much unanomously behind the nix during the save the nix campaign, and we obviously have friends in high places with the likes of Pignata.

http://www.a-league.com.au/article/rested-phoenix-targeting-wanderers-clash-as-finals-springboard/13r3nupye8ki215sig3bnjz238

"Seventh-placed Wellington visit sixth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers on March 19 as part of the split round before hosting Newcastle Jets, who are currently eighth, a week later during the international break" 

What International Break you cods ?

Is that just to fudgeing rub salt in the wound ?

I just sent this email off to the FFA

Can you please pass this on to the manager of the A League...

I see "Seventh-placed Wellington visit sixth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers on March 19 as part of the split round before hosting Newcastle Jets, who are currently eighth, a week later during the international break" on the A League web site.

How can it be an international break if a team like the Wellington Phoenix has to play in it when they have loads of players missing on international duty???

Making them play disrespects the whole league. It gives the Jets a probably easier game against a weakened side. That gives the Jets an advantage over all the teams trying to get into the finals.

Even the rugby nuts over this side of the Tasman talk on the radio wondering how this can happen.

Barrie Hawkes

President, Plains Rangers FC

Yeah, that will work.

it wont get past the desk, all phoenix emails/faxes get directed to the shredder.....

I believe 'filed accordingly' is the technical term...

COYN

Just 131 hours until kick off

COYN

If you subtract the hours sleeping, working and on the toilet, it's getting quite close!

Seems like a long break huh.

Longest off season ever!

Actually, surprise, surprise I did get a full reply from the FFA. It's marked confidential so I spose I'd better not paste it in here... but the main points backing up their stance seem to be that:

1. League are not obliged to observe the international window
2. Commercial interests outweigh football interests
3. All clubs know they have to play through the windows
4. The policy will be reviewed from year to year.

Or it could be good luck as we can beat them even with an reduced team.

I believe the word "underarm" is a better term than stupid. The FFA know exactly what they are doing and it's underarm. Their metrics are b......t.