R9 vs Newcastle Jets | Saturday 6th Dec | 7:00pm | SS2

Just wanted to say that if the tables were turned there would have been an avalanche of hate from across the Tasman about typical Nix thuggery in that game. Pepper in particular was carrying on through after every tackle (many of which were late anyway). And then that incident with Rodriguez which is being conveniently forgotten. Reminded me of that elbow from Muscat last year, after which everyone was saying he should have been banned (including the commentators). I was amazed watching it, that we got the only yellow (though that was justified).

In contrast, our discipline has improved amazingly this season. Just one yellow so far for Muscat, one for Siggy, two for Lia...

pepper didn't get a card. Krishna was the only one.

Yep, discipline has been really good. Obviously something Ernie has been working on.

I know... I was trying to say that he (Pepper) deserved one (or more). Possibly got muddled in me acknowledging that the yellow Krishna got was legit. I.e. we deserved that yellow, but they deserved at least 3 or 4 and didn't get any.

Burns in Aussie provisional squad for asian cup

I chose not to post on match day and thank god. Re-reading over some of the commentary..... Awful? What? I can't drink but even in my worst alcoholic haze I would not have hallucinated that we were awful.

Unlike most Phoenix games where we go a goal down, I thought that there was never any *real* danger of not getting the result. Such has been the ability to create chances/half chances, it was only a matter of time when we did score. I think someone mentioned that this could be season defining and I think I am inclined to agree but only to a point. On the road, had most of the game, go down a goal against the run of play but keep playing our way and eventually, it came to pass. That's never happened with a Phoenix team before. I guess the reason I am not fully on board with that suggestion is that it was Newcastle. If this had been Roar, or another place we generally don't play well then it would be a brilliant point. Still, our team can play and I am not so sure there is fear in having to come from behind as we used to.

The only concern I have is the easy goals we are not scoring. When you think about them, its not a stretch to say we could have scored 5. We still burn through a truckload of chances that while not always be *easy* in nature, they are not so difficult that we consistently miss them. And then you see Krishna with a thunderbolt........

I am really surprised Ben Kennedy still has a gig in this league. Words can't describe how much I actually laughed and how hard.

I struggle to see how the penalty was not given to Roly. I kinda scratched my head when the replay from behind the goal shows Roly CLEARLY getting hit first and Zelic is going 'what a great tackle'. I would also ask the question, was he the last line of defence cause I think you could make a case for him being sent as well (memory is a bit hazy on exactly where other players were) I thought the ref was ok but he got that wrong, his lino got McGlincheys goal wrong and what was the card to Roy about?? In the 85th min with nothing doing all game and a trip?

A-Rod showed his best performance in a Phoenix uniform yet and why we signed him. Having seen what Lia did when he came on, it does kinda make Ernie think about what way he wants to play. Its nice to have that problem of what way to play and what players to start but I think on that games performance, you would start A-Rod again. Some of his balls were just lovely and I think there was one early on that was slightly overhit but had it not been it was literally perfect. He also shows a bit going forward as well and I think when he was allowed to be the ball shuffler in the attacking half, a role that Riera tends to do, he showed he can do it well.

3 points this week and then Sydney to see how we are really placed on the table.

Who was the man of the match?

Makes it all worth while heading to the match when the players come over after the game..

Merrick not sink a beer? Disappointing.

probably can't be seen to now, unless it's a carlsberg. 

Siggy is a classic

Munk.  Can you mute Hatter next time please.  Thanks.

pardon? my left ear is still mostly deaf..

still, id rather listen to him than Ned sharking zelic

None of those things make any difference to the fact a penalty should have been awarded. You can't not give a spot kick because the fouled player didn't run in a straight line. If there was contact first, which there was, it was a penalty. That simple.

Really happy for the guy. I hope he secures a spot in the final squad. 

I don't often cheer the Aussie football team but I would like to see Burns do well.

He has a great attitude seems like a top guy, i agree that I hope he does well.

The Jest must be seething at not retaining him

on the subject of referees  i note we got another fresh faced pimply yoof with one other game under his belt.

Generally did an ok job but how did Jacob Pepper not get booked at the very least. The only player he did not clatter was Brockie !

They didn't sign him because of injury concerns, and Merick said afterwards that he isn't a train every day player and that they monitor his condition very carefully. So must have some underlying concerns.

That is a tad nit picky, the Phoenix took chances (albeit not all of them) to come back from 1 down. That's was a great showing to come from down like that. Not something I am used to seeing the Phoenix do.

I agree Azevo.

I was merely disagreeing that it was an "excellent showing". It wasn't.

It was a great showing to come from behind. It was an excellent RESULT, but it was NOT and excellent showing. 

There was a lot that was far from ideal, some things to be concerned about, and as other's have said, if we played like that for the first hour against the Victory or Adelaide we'd be toast.

Also JV, note I did NOT say we were awful, I said "close to awful". I then immediately also said "we did some good things". I also said "a lot of what we did in that first 69 minutes was average at best". Note it says "a lot of..." and NOT _ALL_ of...

All of the negative points I made were to highlight that despite the good parts (of which I acknowledge there were plenty) it was not "an excellent showing".

Fair enough. I wasn't being sensitive, I don't think. I was just wanting to clarify... if you meant my comments...

My first reacton was "penalty".

I watched the reply quite a few times, and I think the defender did pick up Roly first, but at full speed Im not surprised it wasn't given as he did get a bit of the ball.

I actually think the young ref had a very good game.

You would think that he does a lot of physio and maintenance to ensure risk is minimised.

Yet they signed Flores.

At final whistle my first, only, thought was I LOVE FOOTBALL.

http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/article/ben-sigmu...

*smug emoticon*

ref did k as far as reffing general play, but he missed pepper fouling everyone! he elbowed A-rod, he choppped two or three of our guys late - all waived as play on which is fine but ref should have issued a yellow card for a couple of them which would have resulted in a red. If he'd not issued any cards I wouldnt be concerned, he did let manny off with his revenge hit of pepper but carded krishna late in the second for a fairly weak tackle from behind.