R24 vs Adelaide United | Sun 7th April | 7:00pm | SS3

Fenton out. Krishna back in. And hopefully a few others too.

Will take a draw.

Date fail.

Que?

 ;-)

Good save. We can win this game.

Let's win it, it will largely secure our 4th spot with Adelaide playing City next week.

Go Nix.

With our attackers firing at the moment (Williams) and Krishna coming back into the starting lineup up, I can see us putting quite a few past Adelaide

I worry about the loss of Fenton. He's been exceptional this season.

Would settle for 4 points in next two matches given that both away from home

No! Two wins!

whilst I understand being ok with 4 points I think we are playing well enough to hope for 6.

Agree. Not only has he been outstanding, but i think he typifies our squad and the hard yards they've put in. 

How Rudan manages his absence will define where we finish in the table. Every team we play now will funnel their attack down this flank to expose whoever is in there.  

Agree that Fenton has played well. Who-ever takes his position will take time to settle in. Elliot looked ok, but not totally convincing but will get better with more game time. Thought Gulley was bought in to cover this position so fitness aside be interesting to see who gets the opportunity. Really hope that Taylor and Kopa are back into the team this week to give our defence a bit more stability and a few more options.

Lowry possibly in the mix for the wide spot as well if we can get more than two fit CBs.

I was surprised how well Lowry played against the Jets considering he was not the first choice. We seem to have a decent back 3 with enough cover although Golec is probably a bit slow (as his yellow card against the Jets showed).

That yellow can be partly attributed to his lack of speed but mostly just another of the brainless yellows that we seem to give away every game.

Having a back 3 means it's easier for these guys to step in and do a job. They've done well.

Who comes in for Fenton down the right? is Gulley fit? 

Is Doyle injured or just out of favour?

Aside from the odd typical Doyle mistake this season he’s really improved compared to previously I thought. 

Borked

Adelaide have been woeful lately, so will we be playing them into form?

Well since we cant agree lets just split it down the middle. 5 points it is!

giving away the yellow was definitely not a mistake. he killed the move dead around half way. 

a good calculated yellow.

Golec was way outpacing O'Donovan. Two more strides and he could have made a legal tackle. Not sure why he gave the yellow away; maybe some through ball was on.

Another time, retreating from a corner, he ran down a couple of other Jets' players on the counterattack, Georgievski and Petratos IIRC.

Error-prone in this game - handball, attempted OG, and muffed header - all of which could've led to a goal.

But is he really that slow?

I have to say I did not see those instances, I must have missed them.

Biggest problem is the gap left by louis. We have 3 options really - Gulley if he's fit, Lowry or Elliot. I don't really see anyone else playing there. Alternatively Rudan changes formation to a back 4, in which case I wouldn't mind having Lowry start again. Back 4 of Cacace, Kopa, Dura and Lowry isn't the strongest but if it gives us the chance to bring Krishna back into the lineup and keep Burgess and Singh on the pitch I think that could be pretty formidable

I would expect Rudan to continue with Golec in there, and keep Taylor on ice until the playoffs start. 

Something like this? Looks like a scary attacking team tbh.

I think you are right and Kopa would be a better option - I would hope he is back on the park on Sunday.

Something like that, but Burgess on the right and Singh on the left.  

And as DJ JJS pointed out, with Kopa in the backline rather than as DM, assuming he is fit and ready.

If we keep the same shape as we have used all season (and I think we should) 

And Roy comes straight back in - as he should

Out of Williams, Rufer, Burgess, Singh and Mandi - who comes out of the starting XI ?  Burgess has basically filled as people have served one match suspensions over the last few rounds.  First Rufer, then Singh then Krishna.  Burgess has also been a form player over that period.

All back now - so who plays? 

left field (to be literal, right field) pick - burgess to fill in for Fenton. gets all our performing players on the pitch. he has the legs. has shown ok defensive ability and discipline when playing in CM.

Justin Gulley hasn’t been included in the Phoenix squad to play Adelaide. He’s listed as having a quad injury. Guess it’s down to Callan Elliot, Ryan Lowry and maybe Michal Kopczynski to replace Louis Fenton at RWB. Tom Doyle also injured and Nathan Burns is nowhere to be seen.

— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) April 4, 2019

Interesting - but I cannot imagine Sheppard to start and Burgess not to start.

Also, not sure of chances for Golec to play in Fenton's position. Lowry would be more likely.

Reckon it will be Kopa. 

Really don't see us going to a back 4 this late in the season. Hopefully Elliot gets the nod, think he did enough on Saturday to get another crack and Rudan seems to back young players who do well. Gulley should start when fit though.

Adelaide United squad: 1.Daniel MARGUŠ (gk), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 6.Vince LIA, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.Isaías SÁNCHEZ (c), 11.Craig GOODWIN, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ, 19.Jordy THOMASSEN, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 22.Michael JAKOBSEN, 24.Pacifique NIYONGABIRE, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 31.Mirko BOLAND, 32.Carlo ARMIENTO, 33.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS **two to be omitted**

Ins: 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ (promoted), 24.Pacifique NIYONGABIRE (promoted), 32.Carlo ARMIENTO (promoted)
Outs: 4.Ryan STRAIN (hamstring)

Unavailable: 9.Baba DIAWARA (knee), 10.Ken ILSØ (suspended), 23.Jordan ELSEY (foot)

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Filip KURTO (gk), 4.Mandi SOSA, 5.Ryan LOWRY, 7.Cillian SHERIDAN, 11.David WILLIAMS, 12.Antony GOLEC, 13.Liberato CACACE, 14.Alex RUFER, 15.Michal KOPZCYNSKI, 17.Callan ELLIIOT, 18.Sarpreet SINGH, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21. Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Max BURGESS, 27.Steven TAYLOR, 31. Ben WAINE, 32. Gianni STENSNESS **two to be omitted**

Ins: 21.Roy KRISHNA (returns from suspension), 32.Gianni STENSNESS (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 3. Justin GULLEY (quad injury - 2 weeks), 16. Louis FENTON (foot injury - season), 19. Tom DOYLE (quad injury - 2 weeks)

No mention of Burns at all.

Seven backs named, but a questionmark over Taylor and Kopa.