R8 vs WSW, Sunday 1 Dec, 5 pm

It's a self-fulfilling prophecy too: less games in Wellington means less connection fans feel to the team which means smaller crowds which means more 'home' games on the road. Then no novelty factor in other centers so 'home' games on the road get less crowds so that means they keep trying to find new venues for them too. Sooner or later no one will turn up in Wellington or elsewhere and then they'll say "there was no support" and fold the club, when they never tried to build or maintain a loyal fanbase in the city the club was nominally based in. Considering Welnix said they were buying the club for Wellington it's a slap in the face to the fans here.

I've said this before, but I find it bizarre that it seems Welnix have never done any market research to see why people do go to games here and why those who don't don't. Is it ticket prices? Is it stadium food? Is it results and performances on the field? Isit parking? Is it atmosphere? Who knows? They just say crowds aren't big enough to break even so we'll take games away. Seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face to me.

Anyway, I'm actually feeling positive about this game. Would like to see something like this:

. Moss

Muscat Sigmund Dura Caira

. Hicks Reira

Ifill Carlos. Kenny

. Brockie

(Formatting gone weird on my phone there)

I think the 4-3-1-2 is too one dimensional on attack. We struggled with the 4-2-3-1 but that was with Muscat and Lia as holding midfielders. I think Hicks and Reira could control possession there better. Ifill and Kenny hhave both earned starts too I reckon. Bit of a gamble after WSW tore us a new one playing that formation last time but I think a gamble is needed to try and change our luck.

I think the reason we have struggled with 4-2-3-1 is that we tried fitting in too many of Hysugems, Brockie, Iffil and Hernandez. That is just too many players who don't run with as much pace and energy. Cuuningham looked decent in the last game so I would try starting him again but keep Hicks and put Hysugems up front by himself. Brockie and Iffil both on the bench. I would still be tempted to start Reiera ahead of Lia but I don't like changing too many things at once so would stick with Lia who is at least playing better than at the start of the season.

edit: Not at all convinced by Fenton at RB so Muscat should play there IMO

Interesting. Lia is starting to perform and people still want to drop him.

Is it the novelty factor wearing off, so they have to take the show to where the novelty factor still exists?

You're arguing on the basis that less RoF games = less invested home base. Is it not possible that the opposite pertains; that familiarity breeds contempt, and more people will be interested if real home games are less frequent?

People also wanting to drop our top scorer who has the same amount of goals as Berisha so far.

Well we have seen that holding a game every four years produces a large crowd.

To quote Elemeno P

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder
But I doubt it, I really doubt it
Playing ping pong over oceans, messing with emotions
Messing with my head
Messing with my head

:)

"Designated scapegoat" is the new "haters" or "sack Ricki".

The amount of goals he has relative to other players in the league is not an indicator of the form that Brockie has. If it was, sign up the top goalscorer in the ASB Youth League. He'd have more than 2, right?

sounds like shinji has injured his shin and is out. fark yea!

The novelty factor wearing off has not affected the crowd numbers.... their poor run of results have.

We do not support losing teams and the nix have been for almost 2 seasons now.

If they start winning those numbers will pick up again, simple as that.

this is true for the wellington fanbase - the travelling circus fans will drop as the novelty wears off - losing doesn't help here either

Late Sunday games don't help crowd numbers.

Comparing Berisha and Brockie ....lol.... Berisha has played less than half the A league matches Brockie has this year, but hey never let the facts get in the way of a yarn

8 months since nix all whites players last played in Wellington wearing a nix shirt. 

...and just a reminder, to Mr Vader, et al, who think Lia is now scaling new heights of personal performance:  Lia is mindbogglingly minging. 

Care to back that up with some explanation, as per rule #4?  http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/categories/wellington-phoenix-discussion/topics/forum-rules-and-regulations

I dont think I'm going to offer anything new this long running debate Pat.  However, I'm previously on record as saying I dont expect DMs to pass like Micheal Laudrap - Much of Lia's critcisms seem to focus on this aspect of his game.  I think he's unable to play the full 95.  I think around 10mins into second half he fades badly, and his ability to fullfill the basic DM role is compromised.  He get's caught far to high up the pitch.  I dont think he screens, slows transitions well at all.  In last weeks game, at around the 55 min mark, there was a moment which highlights this:  Sydney in the middle third looking to play in a wide left player, Lia arrives late to his area, sees but fails to screen a simple pass to his man on the inside.  Just watch him tracking back like some ole lumoxy pack horse... etc.

as much as I hate to write this

 I feel like another draw is coming .

Jeff, (and we know we can't call you sonny right:)) am I right it saying you and I both absolutely agree that by Lia's personal standards he has been less substandard than usual?  The only reason he starts seems to be because Ernie wont change too many in the starting line up at once which is exasperating but probably correct.  I'm also assuming you and I both know that Lia wouldn't make any other A league side, and many State sides for that matter.

Shininury? Ohno!!! was nice.

A shame it's a Sunday game, I'll have to wait for the following Welly game to make the big drive down. If we can start out of the blocks with confidence, I reckon we can take WSW. Cmon boys lets go.

I thought Off Topic was our home of stooopid?

It's this incredibly long off-season this year.

Mods, take contr...