R8 vs WSW, Sunday 1 Dec, 5 pm

Two more sleeps

If we could all stop spelling Boxall's name with and H in it, that would be great.

Ok then. Cheers Michael Laws

*ba dum tish emoticon*

agree they'll still be hard to beat, but without their "stars" they are less of a threat.

Nelson is the worst.

The politically correct term is Referee of Colour!

non-eumelaninally challenged

So Ernie confirms in this piece that Brockie is out injured and Caira is being rested. One of Muscat or Boxall will replace Caira. Ifill and Cunningham options to replace Brockie.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9454645/Ernie-Merrick-not-interested-in-All-Whites-job

Ernie also intends to give the All Whites job the big swerve noting that:

"[Some people have] had a go at me saying 'I can't win a game [with the Phoenix] so why would I be interested?' And they're right - I'm not interested."

I think its tough to ask Boxall to come in at a position he does not normally play at off the back of zero game time as much as I would like him to play. I think the smarter move is you move Manny there (although I would use Riera) put Riera in the midfield and Kenny up front alongside Stein. Kenny might be a better partner for Stein if he roams across the front line.

You have Ifill on the bench to come on, Boxall can play 30 and move Manny to the midfield and just another sub whether it be Bertos or Boyd.

Kenny has to start for mine. I've been lukewarm on him so far but his performance off the bench v Sydney merits a reward.

Yip hope to see Kenny start. Showed that bit of quality we all hoped he had against Sydney.

Also hope to see Iffs injected much earlier into the game or even start. 

Reira isn't a fullback IMO, I would not like to see him starting at LB. Remember the stint he had at RB off the bench earlier in the season, did not look at home as a fullback. Rather Manny at LB and Reira DM for this one.

I also haven't been hugely enamoured by Kenny but he looked good last week so deserves a start with Brockie out.

kenny and waffles to start, then ifill to come on at the 55-60min mark.

just a side thought, would our attack work if we had a front three of kenny, ifill, carlos? with kenny at the top and the other two roaming. too much creativity? not enough structure? or a shit ton of goals? (also, I cant remember a time this season we have had that, but I have a poor memory so I maybe mistaken)

Boxall auto corrects to Boxall doesnt it?

If you are going to do that, then Nelsen and Lochhead should go in too....

The problem with Nelsen is that you can't autocorrect Nelson.

ooh can Leggy autocorrect to Mr Cuddles?

When I read that, even I *facepalmed* and went 'god I am a thick c**t'

c**t should autocorrect to cuddles! #cuddlefriday

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11164739

muscat LB apparently. Hersi is out too which makes me wonder if the reporter does much research but anyway

You would think then based on what he has said about Caira, that Fenton will be sitting out in about 4 weeks then.

What are the odds it does not happen?

We had a bye a couple of weeks ago. I would have thought if a player did need a rest, even if just a mental refresher, the timing doesn't make much sense. Against his old team as well.

Agree RJ. I think its a polite way of dropping him.

Sounds like it JV. It's probably one of the ways the Ernie avoids losing the squad harmony/chemistry. Management is all about little things like this to make sure that there are no major disruptions between players. The politics of a football club.

Its funny how Soccer Stoppage Time didnt think he was even a LB. He seems to have some attributes but i still think he looks uncomfy. Not as uncomfy as Fenton though.