R25 V Melbourne City | Sunday 12th April | 7:00pm

Train how you play, and all that

Scything your teammates down and shouting at them?

On that topic, have you noticed how the captaincy stakes have been raised with Dura (Phoenix) and Jedinak (Crystal Palace / Socceroos) both sporting facial hair?

They bring different qualities. Boyd brings his invisibility cloak...

Well, it's hard to know with Boyd as he hasn't really proved himself due to lack of game time. Sometimes his option taking has been first class, and he is capable of beating players, and knowing where his team mates are. A couple of great strikes. 

Krishna has been great too. Fast, fast, fast. Better than Boyd on a counter. Made a couple of really good passes too, not just across the goal, and that shot from out of the box was a screamer.

I feel that Boyd could become better than him technically, but Krishna has scored so many goals he's got muscle memory on whether to go to the line or cut back in or shoot on the left or right...He doesn't really have to think about it, he just does it and sometimes it comes off. 

Seems like Krishna has pissed Ernie off less too...

Are we missing Boyd? I don't think so. There are plenty of good attackers. He might deserve to be ahead of Kenny, but still. We are still missing defensive mids cover or Ernie putting Roly in DM for Riera and putting A Rod up further forward which would have been the better option with hindsight...

Old lion young lion with Lia?

Apologies for taking this a bit off topic again, but I think Boyd has become a kind of mythical figure not entirely connected to his actual achievements and performances. I always rated him as a talented young player and I think that it's unfortunate that we haven't seen more of him, regardless of the reason, because he did a good job in team with some major issues last season. However, his Phoenix record isn't great in terms of goals and assists for someone who spent a lot of time as a striker. I've also never really seen him stand out for the AWs either. He scored a bucket load of goals in the ASBP and saved our arses with a great performance once this season, but is that enough to explain the amount of hype some people give him on here? You'd think we were keeping Messi out of the squad the way some people have reacted at various times this season.

You know who else scored a bucket load of goals in the ASBP, and over a longer period? Roy Krishna.

Goals at an average of one every 30 minutes over the season is pretty amazing. Well done Tyler.

However, I'm glad Kenny came on when Joel got injured, he adds the unexpected and was fired up. And yes I'd still rank Roy ahead.

0-7, you heard it here first.  (Home teams score listed first)

Referee: Peter Green

good money here- get on board at the TAB

preview here - http://www.a-league.com.au/matchcentre/Melbourne-City-FC-v-Wellington-Phoenix/753917#widget-match-day-tabs

Here's a good omen: my brother-in-law's first son was born on Wednesday, and the little boy is named PHOENIX.

His parents aren't even fans!

Yeah, that's what I do.

(Hmmm. I wonder whether that's the reason they asked me to leave.)

I won't be watching this game (will be mid-air at the time) ; first game I haven't watched all season. I sat through the last two 3-0 shockers in full so we will almost certainly win by a large margin.

thanks mate - we need any help we can get

:a home final should do  COYN

Sorry to bring Boyd up again but I really don't feel anyone can argue that he has far better vision, positioning and technical skill on the ball than Krishna does. However I also don't feel that anyone can argue that Krishna is by far the stronger physically both in shot power strength on the ball and general workrate. As much as I rate all the goals and assists that Krish has given to the team he has also missed multiple sitters. However there is no guarantee Boyd would have even been in the position to get those same opportunities.

My Final Verdict: Krishna > Boyd but both have different strengths and weaknesses

Boyd should be coming off the bench in the 60th - 70th minute to add energy and that change of skill set to catch defenders out. If he is the next best player he should be playing*.

* Assuming Boyd has a desire to play for the nix/no attitude problem

MVC - lost at home to the bottom-placed Jets tonight - CHECK

Perth  - kicked out of the play-offs  - CHECK

(Would be good if they beat Sydney at home in the next game tonight too)

Adelaide - playing Brisbane at home tomorrow night....

It would have been great to see these two scrapping for a place, and something we were entitled to hope for as fans, especially after Boyd's heroics at Adelaide. That aside, Krishna has done the business for us on the park this season, the rest is hypotheticals that can't be answered, at least until Boyd actually starts playing.

sydney won 3-0 and are on 44 points......if Adelaide only get a point and we beat Melbourne B then we are back to top spot on 45 points!!!

Bizarre season

Victory still have that game in hand though. 

Adelaide - lose at home to Brisbane 2-3 tonight - CHECK

"There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,
There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye,
An' it looks like its climbin' clear up to the sky.

Chorus:
Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I've got a wonderful feeling,
Everything's going my way...."

It's game day and you know what that means!  Fire the fudge up!! COYN.  I don't care how we win, just win.  #3pointsincarryonluggage

COME ON YOU NIX.

FIREUP FEVER

It's time for our 8th win away.

Yes!

Team needs to get back on the bike

Momentum leading into finals, finish in top2 etc....

Come on you nix! Feeling mildly unsure about this game. Id be happy with a good performance and a point.

A-rod to score.

Fire up!!!! Albert back, pretty much full strength minus Siggy. 3pts and we're back we belong!

COYN!!

We're going to win, I'm very confident. 

Screw all the jinx carry-on. 

I'm balls-my-wording it. 

If we do not win today mods can change me little under-avatar message to "castrated". 

This pretty much has sealed the loss. Oh well. Bring on Sydney!!!!!

Aaaaand back online. Almost kickoff. COYN!!!

COYN indeed.Nervous as fudge

I would change it to "Dropped"

Phoenix: Moss, Fenton, Boxall, Durante, Muscat, Riera, Rodriguez, Bonevacia, McGlinchey, Burns, Krishna. Subs: Italiano, Cunningham, Appiah-Kubi, Lia, Doyle

Melbourne: Velaphi, Baharudin, Kennedy, Novillo, Jaliens, Koren, Paartalu, Germano, Kisnorbo, Champman. Mooy. Subs: Redmayne, Williams, Murdocca, Retre, Melling.

Who's champman? Is he any good? 

Bring it

Been hiding from football all week, but fired up for tonight.

He is coming back from suspension,  he pushed a Ref

Evening all..

link, ladies & gents?