R9 vs Melbourne Victory | Sun 3rd Dec | 4:30pm | RoF

I might be generalising here, but def saw it at times in the first half - our backline so flat and determined to be high. Berisha was having a field day playing between the lines, and when their midfield had the ball and under next to no pressure - Dura would push the line up if anything, rather than cover the space in behind. No surprise they beat our line with through balls or one-twos. Waiting for someone to chip Italianio from half way too.

Yes, that will certainly improve the defence

Maybe it's me, but I didn't see anything in that article about him giving up on anything? I saw him say we're good enough to win games, but we need to learn how to be winners. Also didn't read anything about how the players don't care, either.

All I read is a Coach who wants his players to be tougher mentally and close games out. But, hey.....

Ernie said when he took over that the Nix were "the nicest bunch of losers I'd ever met".

I liked Ernie as a coach but it's clear that he didn't change anything during his time in charge, as Darije has found out.

“When I first met the guys I said you are the nicest bunch of losers I have ever met, and now I am saying they are the nicest bunch of winners I have ever met,” joked the veteran coach.

Read more at https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/merrick-attitude...

How many players are left from 4 years ago? 5 is the answer. 

"Kalezic said he was happy with how things played out tactically on Sunday, although said the speed with which the three lines of defence, midfield and attack moved up was not quick enough in the second half and allowed the Victory too much space."

You're right. Which means that sacking X or Y player won't do any good. The problem is within the club.

Organisational culture is a very interesting one. Here we see a high turn over of players and coaches but the on-field results stay the same.  Someone else mentioned we have some very good players within the group and we do but there is just something not quite right.

If I was to hazard a guess [based on a little bit of experience] there will be 1 or maybe a couple more people in the background that are having a negative impact on how the club operates. It could be as close as Dome or as far away as Morrison. Without being in a position to truly observe, its hard to put a finger on what is actually is.

It might even be something as simple as being too nice or loyal by keeping the likes of Durante in the playing group and as captain by offering him a long term contract - that type of thing could have all sorts of effects on others at the club. Sometimes these things are outwardly very small but can have a huge influence on an organisations culture. 

The entire footballing department changed as well, unless you think the problem was the back office who at the time of Merrick had their offices in town and miles away from the training facilities and football department.

The new office is on Thorndon Quay even further away from the training facilities than the last one

Ernie took time off HAL after being let go by Melbourne Victory. We provided him with an opportunity to get back into HAL without him having to jump over too high an entry bar. We had some wins, and plenty of losses, but Merrick probably felt that he went as far as he could with The Nix and decided to have a go coaching a club he would be more likely to succeed with.

This is why I will interpret that old comment on the "nice bunch of losers" as him being able to say: "and now let me show what I can do with a  team that aims higher than the 6th place on the ladder".  While this is not what he actually said (obviously), so far this is what happened - he is now working with the Jets who used to be the easybeats but have now shown themselves to respond to his coaching.

But he had years to recruit the team that he wanted and must of the team changed drastically.

Well, if it's NOT a problem with the club itself, and a change of coach, backroom staff and 75% of players has done nothing to change it, then what is it? I don't think "witchdoctor curse" is a sustainable hypothesis.

How about a boardroom curse?

I honestly think the club has shown too much loyalty to good club men, and continues to do so. Moss, Lia, and now Durante were persevered with to the detriment of the team. I know some of you would probably love to have have Moss back right now, but no, he was never the sort of keeper for us that you win a title with. Similarly Dura is not now the kind of centre back or captain that wins you titles. 

Playing for the Nix means not getting a lot of public exposure, and the bellyache is limited to a few followers here.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I would put forward a hypothesis that not being in the public eye might be just the thing that allows the less ambitious players backslide, unless they are keen to advance their careers (like say Bonevacia or Burns) in which case they go once they've proven their credentials (much like Merrick, in my opinion).

 In today's "Press" in Christchurch there are several large agency articles off the wires on how the EPL clubs are doing, and a single small note in the briefs about the game against the Victory.  The reasons for that contrasting coverage are many, and are not actually the point right now, but the outcome of that contrast may be that it fosters a small-time mentality. Good players will come and either leave the club or adjust to the average level ("regression to the mean") if they do not feel like they need to be trying very hard anymore.

If you think Italiano is a good keeper, jesus you are dreaming. Berisha coulda/should chipped him when Durante saved it on the O/S call. He has about as much talent at Tando Velaphi and for me, is a liability that is all over the place in terms of positioning. He catches a high ball - whoppee, thats a basic of being a goalkeeper..

You can't seriously say we would be in the exact same position if we had Moss. Smith is probably not much better at the moment but I can see growth and potential. If Italiano has any growth left in him, well he had better show it sooner or later cause 3-4 odd years as a backup, he has been horseshark at the next level down and not much better at this level.

Doloras last week you were adamant it was a "no one cares. Not even the coach." You spoke at length about he had given up and was going to leave mid season. Whats happening this week?

You seriously talk a lot of bollocks and when you get called on it, shift the posts. Talk about the game, which at least you can see in front of you rather than talking about stuff that is happening being the doors that you make up to think is fact. It was pretty evident from Durantes post match on the TV and Darijes presser that everyone gives a shark. 

I'm just interested as to what made up theory you have this week that will be a load of bollocks...

I agree with JV here that Darije cares and is not "about to leave".  I also stick to my earlier point that Dura cares, but is probably well past the physical point that Ben Sigmund was at when he retired. My concern is chiefly the physical aspect of Dura's performance, but more worryingly I see signs of his inability to promptly adjust our lines in response to a shift in opposition game (at least that is what I saw in the second half against Brisbane, and in the second half against the Victory).  This is not a comment on his commitment or on his heart.

Some random thoughts:

* I think Dura still has what it takes to be an A-League CB. He seems to be caught out of position too often for the Nix, pushing up into the midfield possibly trying too hard to close all the gaps he can see. Was decent for the AW's in a more structured role, if he was able to focus on just being a limited CB he would still be good. Obviously still cares about the club, unlike Rossi.

* Paracki was great in the first few games. After that it was clear he became a target for any team we played against, shut Paracki down and all our ball movement through the middle of the field is gone. As per his comments a few weeks ago that the A-league is so much faster than European leagues, he is just not used to being shut down so quickly. Still believe he's a quality import, and will adjust to the pace of the game here. Needs a better outlet to play alongside him though. Can we please swap Finkler for A-rod?

I really think most of the shark I get on this forum is people who don't like me to start with, misread my posts to say something I didn't intend, and then dislike me even more because of this straw man they've constructed. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy which just leads to more and more angry comments. You watch what happens in response to this one.

So to clarify: I think that Darije is pissed off to the maximum. I honestly think he is despairing of being able to do anything with this shower of losers, as shown by his serve in Finkler's direction. I don't know what else he can do. I do not and never have thought he doesn't care.

Dig Darije's latest comments:

Darije appears to agree with me that some players are not trying, at least not as much as they should as professionals.

Doubt anyone actually dislikes you. I dislike  your left wing ideas but hey, we can't all be perfect. :)

I don’t like her.

;)

Feeling's mutual, ballsy

It's an internet discussion forum, Doloras.  We can like or dislike your views, but it does not go as far as liking or disliking you.  Simply, to paraphrase Voltaire, we have the right to disagree with your views, and will defend your right to hold these views, etc. etc.

Lol. People don't dislike you they just take the piss out of your ridiculous theories and claims

It's the Fever and the weather!

This is what you said. You are delusional.

Doloras:

My take: Kaledzic is gone. He may or may not last out the season, but he's coming up against what Ernie Merrick found - a team culture which doesn't want to play, doesn't want to win, because it's only Wellington so who cares.

https://www.yellowfever.co.nz/categories/wellington-phoenix-discussion/topics/round-8-vs-central-coast-mariners-sat-nov-25-rof-7-35pm/page/16

Actually, need to balance this up a bit. Kaludjerovics two goals were out of the top drawer, and he deserves more credit than I've seen him given for those.

Sick of losing, come on Phoenix!

On the upside at least no Peruvian hookers were involved in this defeat

Team of the week / Shirt tucked in - Will never be mentioned again 9th grade #Winner

Again- scoring lots of goals. Just like more occasions of us scoring more than the opposition.