R4 vs Victory Monday 9:30pm SS3

Blaming the ref already?

No. Just crystal ball gazing.

Funny how everyone is fine with Bertos staying at RB all of a sudden. Personally I'd be putting Fenton back there, as he looked really good pre-season and will get forward a bit more.

But also has no match fitness this season and is recovering from injury.

Hey, I'm the biggest Bertos (and Lia) hater here but I'd start him this week over a guy recovering from injury!

I think Leo does a job there but he's out of position far, far too often - it's not always immediately noticable because Dura covers most of the time but it really throws our defensive shape out of whack. 

hard to run and move freely when your shoulder's buggered.

Regardless it's almost impossible to replicate the physical demands of 90 minutes of football.

I wouldn't rush him back in/ I think Leo is doing fine and has saved our bacon two weeks running. I think Louis should wait till his chance comes up.

It was his own rash challenge that got him injured in the first place.

RB is not where we are struggling right no, I think Leo is doing ok.......Ernie would be better served sorting the slow start and the inaccuracies in midfield

Sounds like there is a few of us rocking up to the Mail Exchange pre-game.. It's close to Etihad so bonus..

I hope Fenton gets plenty of time at RB this game. Because next week Bertos is off to Tacoland. Fenton will need to get some match time so he does not have to come in cold next week.

Not sure how this game will go. Victory will try and play their own game....which should leave us space to play ours. Ernie needs to settle his match side...we can't afford to keep adjusting things mid match.

I reckon he will play 3 in mid with Reira coming in and 2 up top....probably Stein and Brockie....which does not work for me as Brockie is not a wide player. Would be happy with a point

Don't think there's any doubt Fenton injury was a bit of a blow for Ernie. He was looking real good pre-season at RB. But have no problem with Leo starting tomorrow night, if its felt Fenton needs another week. RB isn't the biggest issue with this side. It's still midfield to supplement Hernandez. But won't be judging the Phoenix for another 3 games. Takes time to get the right mix. I didn't expect us to win a point until the Napier game, so we're a point of where I predicted we'd be. Am not expecting any points at Melbourne, or ChCh, but just want to see the positive signs like we saw at WSW ie improvement and hope, that this side can become a force. My gut feel after watching virtually every pre-season game and all league games closeup, is that our failure to sign a top A league class DM will hurt us. However am hoping to be proved wrong. The other question is which of these kids is going to standup finally and prove they've got what it takes. Boyd hasn't done it yet, but then again, that was under Herbert. Fenton was also struggling under RH, but Ernie may have sorted Fenton's niche. Will Ridenton and Rufer stepup. Really important at least one of them does.

Also where to play Hernandez and what to do if he's getting shut down...

Think the best player out of Fenton and Bertos should play tomorrow and also in Mexico...though with the Williams -Spoonley thing there's likely to be an accomodation...

I think Brockie can play out wide, but he either needs to be out wide or in the centre, in the centre and then dropping out wide...Huysegems I think is either in the centre as a forward or perhaps a little deeper next to Hernandez...

Whoops wrong thread - Come on Phoenix, Come on Phoenix....(C&P into Chch)

My weekend is not complete....but then again Im not going to work deflated ;>)

Wenger stumbled into signing Flamini who Arsenal supporters are saying has been as influential as Ozil on their form. He just turned up to training with his old club to regain his fitness and got signed. Any chance of a first rate defensive mid doing this with the Nix?

Week two of my A/L is about to start and hopefully the ill come to the party with a rare away win.

When is AJ13 banned 'till ? I want him back for tonights game.

GAME DAY! FIRE UP! 2-1 to the Nix!

yarn

He's still young enough. I didn't think we'd miss him as much as we obviously have. Go on Tim, you know you want to. ;)

"The Rise of the Machines" - The Timinator!!

Bring back the bandage!

The worm has turned. I did comment at the time he will be sorely missed and everyone laughed. How is our midfield since he left. The answer to that is "pretty much ineffectual"

I'd prefer to have an invisible midfield that did its job therefore nobody noticed it over a non-existent midfield that everyone notices because it's not doing it's job.

Lia and Manny have been outnumbered in the midfield, we've looked better when Ernie has put Hicks or Riera in the midfield at the expense of a player further forward in the park.

Yea man. I agree. I blame Lia as well.

Is this a bad idea?

                   Moss

Fenton     Dura  Siggy   Caira

     Lia         Muscat     Hicks/Riera

      Ifil/Rufer?        Hernandez

                Brockie/Stein

We often seem to need that extra midfielder more often than not, creates extra passing options, provides an additional creative outlet. Only one striker though but mids to come off for a second striker when chasing a result.

I'd be hesitant to push Hernandez wider than as a CAM because it may mean that he's not able to work himself into the game as much, as we really need him pulling the strings.

My bet:

Leo Siggy Dura Caira

For me it's a battle between Lia and hicks. And Ifill vs stein.

I'd give Fenton 30 mins off the bench.

 - False 9'ing it to the max -