R4 vs Victory Monday 9:30pm SS3

The squad is basically last year's squad - minus some squad players + untested rookies + Hernandez. Why does/did that equation convince anyone we would be anywhere near the playoffs. This isn't England. There is no promotion or relegation. We aren't going to win the league this season so why does it matter if we come 6th or 8th? Ideally we wouldn't come last and I hope the players want to do well for personal pride. The point is this is a transitional season. You don't sign a heap load of 17 year olds and then expect them to pay off instantly. We are playing far better football as our midfield actually passes the ball to the each other. It will take time though.

If you don't have patience you are no going to like Merrick. The Phoenix simply don't have the money to go from last to first in one season.

I think most of us are tired of heraing about how this year is a transition year - we've been transitiongin for too long now. Unless of course this is the first real transition year and the welnix were trotting it out as an excuse beforehand.

Yeah this is true.

The way Merrick has recruited suggests to me that he intends to really start next year. He has cleared some excess and gotten rid of Lochy who was presumably being paid well and has recruited promising youth on the cheap. I'm guessing the plan is to clear more of the expensive dead wood next season (Lia probably Leo and Ifill (unless he gets naturalised) and Stein) and will replace them with the key players he wants (big recruitment drive).

He has this nice foundation of youth to be blooded over the season, Fenton and Caira will probably begin to become quality fullbacks as time goes on, the investment in them probably to yield fruit in towards the end of this season and really pay off next season.

Unfortunately we get no instant results because Welnix's approach is to build a team rather than buy one.

I think that most fans will agree with that, but are also expecting a good finish this season and to make the finals.  

Intellectually we also probably agree that the new team will start to gain consistency and results well into the season (i.e. at this stage don't expect much), but emotionally it's hard to take things like the 1-2 loss in the last minute to Roar and us gifting the Tards three goals in the first few minutes.

Finger is hovering over the "must win" button for Perth and resting firmly on the next game vs Bling.

I think that most fans will agree with that, but are also expecting a good finish this season and to make the finals.  

Intellectually we also probably agree that the new team will start to gain consistency and results well into the season (i.e. at this stage don't expect much), but emotionally it's hard to take things like the 1-2 loss in the last minute to Roar and us gifting the Tards three goals in the first few minutes.

Finger is hovering over the "must win" button for Perth and resting firmly on the next game vs Bling.

Ange joined Roar mid-season.  It was never going to end well, but the following season after rebuilding he created Roarcelona.

Victory did well in it's first season with him.

Holy fuck I think I agree with Leggy! I need to lie down.

I read most of what you post and that is the closest you have come by a long way. Maybe because that post wasn't pure misery.

Didnt they have to relay the turf or something. Hardly gonna do that during rugby season

What? The turf is as good as any pitch anywhere from what Ive seen. 

Football needs a good surface, rugby doesn't.

I know its spring and all that but I don't see Man U playing away for a few games while the seed takes

Think Victory should be worried, Ernie clearly out coached Muscat during the game.. Starting issues aside once the game was underway Ernie was able to adapt and improve the Phoenix whilst Muscat looked clueless and could not alter the way they were playing.

As an aside pretty well all pemier football grounds have under soil heating and ground staff also wheel out massive infra red lights to boost growth in key areas ie penalty box. As such they tend to get growth all year round. Those of us with a few years on the clock remember old trafford and others being an absolute bog bereft of grass by mid January.

Quite right ! QPR went to their plast8c pitch due to mud. Your right about the leather balls... I remember as a centreback cringing as I stood under a goalies clearnce knowing it was going to be like getting punched by Ali!... I even remember playing with a laced ball !! .

Lop... hope it made your day Leggy

Quite right ! QPR went to their plast8c pitch due to mud. Your right about the leather balls... I remember as a centreback cringing as I stood under a goalies clearnce knowing it was going to be like getting punched by Ali!... I even remember playing with a laced ball !! .

I guess you old boys use to walk 20km to school in the snow in bare feet as well? 

I guess you old boys use to walk 20km to school in the snow in bare feet as well? 

I guess you old boys use to walk 20km to school in the snow in bare feet as well? 

I guess you old boys use to walk 20km to school in the snow in bare feet as well? 

Well I would 500 miles and I would walk 500 more.

I'm the Phoenix fan who walked a thousand miles to watch Paul Ifill score...