R9 v Brisbane Roar | Sat 22th Dec | 7:35 | RoF

Give the Hangar in Henderson (opposite Trust Stadium) a call.

Different players. I think Mandi is far better on the ball than Paracki was. Not as physical and his work rate isn't the same, but he seems to be becoming more and more involved as his fitness is improving.

The 3 of them are different players. 

Rodriguez was more a box to box distributor. He was not a DM. 

Paracki was a good player but he was a classic example of form dropping with head

Mandi I am unsure of yet until he reaches full fitness

Early signs are good, I just hope he gets a hard word from Rudan on cutting out the theatrics. It's not our style.

Rudan said a few weeks ago that he encourages players to make the most of incidents to get the refs attention.

This "new gaffer" makeover goes further than I thought!

Agreed he's technically very good, though I still have questions about his mobility (and that's nothing to do with fitness)... but then again Toni Kroos is probably the slowest midfielder in the La Liga...

We never really got a good look at Paracki since he was never being played to his strengths in a role he could handle, outside of the first few games. Remember how he was excellent in the FFA Cup, then kept getting better against Sydney and City? Feel like Mandi's finding his feet here and he's playing excellently right now, but we'll never know how good Paracki could have been in his role (same with Ljujic, I really liked him)

Both Paracki and Ljulic seemed to drop off as the season wore on. 

Can't recall if everyone else dropped off equally as much but these two did.

Just watching the replay of last week's game. God I'm glad I go to the game, cos the commentators are terrible, they never shut up, it's not radio, stop having a chat with each other and try and add to the viewing experience. Piney and Harry, that's you. 

I agree. A bit more commentary about the actual game would be good. Especially when teams are attacking. The general chit chat often over laps exciting moments in the game when they could be upping the commentary tempo to make things feel more exciting.

Not a required skill set..plenty of lessons on EPL coverage etc.

I was really pumped for this game but after a 2 day absence from this site and "Stuff", I just read about the game in Campbelltown and it's just completely delfated my enthusiasm. From a selfish point of view my wonderful streak will be at an end. I will be there tonight but with having a hoarse throat already from a cold, i won't be cheering and this new cherry on top of the icing has killed it. 

COYN

I'm just gutted Napier. Ironically, I was hoping one of those two games were up at your place. I loved the bus trip to Napier and home a few years abck. McLean park is actually a good and underrated venue for football. Next up, the New Zealand Phoenix will be playing in Suva

FFFFIIIIIRRREEEE UUUUPPPP

Roy to score a hat-trick

LOL

I think this game is going to be really interesting from a tactical standpoint. What option does Aloisi take? Does he take the game to us, knowing that he (along with Mulvey) is the coach most under pressure at the moment? They had a real crack at the Vuc last week and looked decent going forward but without the ball they got hammered. When they attacked the allowed far to much space in between the lines for the likes of Troisi, Honda and Barbarouses to do their thing. It was probably most obvious in their first goal, that cracker ball from Troisi to Kosta. Last weeks result would suggest they will sit deep and compact and try to snag a point away, but they really need a win so maybe they try again with the attacking play and hope they don't ship too many. Would like to see Alex Rufer hassling Lopez all game like he did so well against Ninkovic, and if Taylor/Dura/Doyle just sit on Taggart for the full 90 surely we leave the cake tin with the W or at very least a point. Fire Up!!! 

Rudan has confirmed that Kopa is out for this match from the hamstring injury which is a shame.

Brace for Roy, Burnsy, Sarpreet and Kurto 1 each. Assist only for ‘English Messi’ this week. 

Is it a nice day in welly? Sporting public love a winning team on a sunny day. 

Holiday crowd? If only we had a real crowd there. Would be brilliant. 

Anyone got a pax? Had 9300 at 9am this morning

Kopa can pass... Doyle can hit an aimless long ball.

Doyle has a mean switch of play

Lineup as expected, with Doyle in for Kopa. Nichols onto the bench.

Kopa is a calm, technically adept player. 

Good challenge for Doyle to replace him

Fire up!

COYN

Ricki Herbert seen in the croud o.O

Hope we come out firing. Got a feeling this game is going to be very tough.

Thanks to those who took the time to answer my query RE pubs showing the game in and around Nelson. A lot has happened in the last 24hr, I'm camping where there's no reception, don't know where all my sodding data has gone and I'm currently sitting in Nelson airport waiting for my brother in law's plane which has been delayed by a couple of hours. Then I need to drive back another 45 minutes to the camp site so I'll have to check the score in the morning (or when I have Internet access next)!
COYN!

Good to see Ingham is still miles out of his depth. Maybe he could replace Colvey again the rapids.