WPM R3 vs Auckland FC | Sat 2nd Nov | 5pm | RoF / Sky Sports 2 | March 4pm

Noah4thenix

Really hope this is a wake up call for the Nix and Chiefy. Our playstyle won't keep fans, especially when we lose like that to our biggest rivals. Kudos to the Port, they came down in numbers and brought a lot of energy, annoying as that is. Gonna stay off Phoenix socials for a while, not in the mood to be taunted by Aucklanders

It's 0-0 in the 88th minute of a hard fought game and then your keeper loses the game for you in a split second of total incompetence. A draw would've been a far result given the spread of big chances to both teams. Considering two of our most dangerous attacking players only came on in the last 10-15 minutes I thought we were ok, and I'm not sure why a wake up call is needed for anyone. Unless it's for our bloke with the gloves on.

Outpost

Noah4thenix

Really hope this is a wake up call for the Nix and Chiefy. Our playstyle won't keep fans, especially when we lose like that to our biggest rivals. Kudos to the Port, they came down in numbers and brought a lot of energy, annoying as that is. Gonna stay off Phoenix socials for a while, not in the mood to be taunted by Aucklanders

It's 0-0 in the 88th minute of a hard fought game and then your keeper loses the game for you in a split second of total incompetence. A draw would've been a far result given the spread of big chances to both teams. Considering two of our most dangerous attacking players only came on in the last 10-15 minutes I thought we were ok, and I'm not sure why a wake up call is needed for anyone. Unless it's for our bloke with the gloves on.

We created a couple of big ones that we should've tucked away but honestly Auckland were the team that actually consistently went forward and tried to create during the game. We were just waiting around for the right counterattack to come.

Case in point of that is 7 shots to their 18.

YoungHeartHM

InsulinMachine

YoungHeartHM

I really fu cking hate these blue C U N T S

Steady mate, no need for that. To be fair we've handed it to them today

I wear my heart on my sleeve, but apologies for the language.

Absolutely gave it away to them today. We should be disappointed, we should be upset, and in front of such a good turnout as well. Just gutted.

On to next week we go.

C word aside, I had no problem with your comments. Well done to Auckland but that obviously doesn't change the fact I can't fudgeing stand them and fanboy Foley.

maynardf

Smeltz4PM

Hate to be dramatic but I really struggle to visualise us getting much out of this without Rufer on the park

  I am really hoping this is a dramatic bait and switch.
Rufer recovers by game day - starts - man of he match...

I think you got it bang on. Him and Wootton were the best Nix players today by a long way. Ruf should have had an assist too.

Watching that game gave me goose  bumps. Red letter day for NZF. Loved the challenges, the supporters. Well done all. 

Atmosphere looked amazing. 

Agree with earlier comment. Anyone who’s watched the first 2 games knows it was only a matter of time before we would concede like this. 

Wtf is up with this really shakey playing out from the back? 88th minute in front of a 26k crowd and our keeper strolls around to slowly gather the ball for a goal kick, only to kick it sideways and try thread the ball through 2 opposition players in his 6 yard box like he’s Messi. 

What on earth is going on? Complete lack of awareness and football IQ. This play style is just not working.

nixin

https://x.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1852546260018090142?t=FPJxmxfuq8sfFaIgccPdBg&s=19t=FPJxmxfuq8sfFaIgccPdBg&s=19
Ball omitted. Looked at home in the National League last week imho.

Not A League quality any more in Chiefy's eyes.

I would like to offer an official apology to @imanixsupporter

Yesterday I made the claim that this game was never going to get north of 25k or even 20k. Happy to say I was wrong and we pulled an astonishing 26k. Great atmosphere despite the loss, hope it stays consistent from here on out, maybe even a sell-out next season? 👀

Nommag

Just saw the replay of keeper trying to thread the ball between two strikers in the 88th minute. What the actual fudge.

I called it preseason. He's just not that good. 

Would rather have another kiwi between the sticks and use the coin he's on for a striker.

I'm rather frustrated that the Nix have yet again put on a bad show for a big crowd. They always do it. I think the only time they've won in front of an unusually large crowd that I can remember was the homecoming game against Western United.

I understand everyone's frustration at Josh, but I'll again say that he was excellent today prior to the first goal. He actually looked really assured passing it around and made some decent stops. It truly was a moment of madness, not something that was inevitable or coming. I agree with others that he did not inspire confidence against Western United, and I'll be honest I didn't properly watch the Perth game, but I was impressed today and thought before the goal that maybe he was worth that contract extension after all. So I feel like a few people here are allowing the incident to warp their view of him, and I think we should give him a break and hope that it is just a blip, because it really could be. 

imanixsupporter

I'm rather frustrated that the Nix have yet again put on a bad show for a big crowd. They always do it. I think the only time they've won in front of an unusually large crowd that I can remember was the homecoming game against Western United.

I understand everyone's frustration at Josh, but I'll again say that he was excellent today prior to the first goal. He actually looked really assured passing it around and made some decent stops. It truly was a moment of madness, not something that was inevitable or coming. I agree with others that he did not inspire confidence against Western United, and I'll be honest I didn't properly watch the Perth game, but I was impressed today and thought before the goal that maybe he was worth that contract extension after all. So I feel like a few people here are allowing the incident to warp their view of him, and I think we should give him a break and hope that it is just a blip, because it really could be. 

 
 What match were you watching? He was really poor.

LT01

Outpost

Noah4thenix

Really hope this is a wake up call for the Nix and Chiefy. Our playstyle won't keep fans, especially when we lose like that to our biggest rivals. Kudos to the Port, they came down in numbers and brought a lot of energy, annoying as that is. Gonna stay off Phoenix socials for a while, not in the mood to be taunted by Aucklanders

It's 0-0 in the 88th minute of a hard fought game and then your keeper loses the game for you in a split second of total incompetence. A draw would've been a far result given the spread of big chances to both teams. Considering two of our most dangerous attacking players only came on in the last 10-15 minutes I thought we were ok, and I'm not sure why a wake up call is needed for anyone. Unless it's for our bloke with the gloves on.

We created a couple of big ones that we should've tucked away but honestly Auckland were the team that actually consistently went forward and tried to create during the game. We were just waiting around for the right counterattack to come.

Case in point of that is 7 shots to their 18.

I'm not sure I agree with that stat. Very few of their chances were threatening. I'd say only two were even save worthy, the shot early on that Oly saved and the second goal. Other then that I thought the Nix looked more threatening in the 18 yard box but wasted two easy scoring chances.

Gotta say. What a bunch of ballbags the Port are

Marto

LT01

Outpost

Noah4thenix

Really hope this is a wake up call for the Nix and Chiefy. Our playstyle won't keep fans, especially when we lose like that to our biggest rivals. Kudos to the Port, they came down in numbers and brought a lot of energy, annoying as that is. Gonna stay off Phoenix socials for a while, not in the mood to be taunted by Aucklanders

It's 0-0 in the 88th minute of a hard fought game and then your keeper loses the game for you in a split second of total incompetence. A draw would've been a far result given the spread of big chances to both teams. Considering two of our most dangerous attacking players only came on in the last 10-15 minutes I thought we were ok, and I'm not sure why a wake up call is needed for anyone. Unless it's for our bloke with the gloves on.

We created a couple of big ones that we should've tucked away but honestly Auckland were the team that actually consistently went forward and tried to create during the game. We were just waiting around for the right counterattack to come.

Case in point of that is 7 shots to their 18.

I'm not sure I agree with that stat. Very few of their chances were threatening. I'd say only two were even save worthy, the shot early on that Oly saved and the second goal. Other then that I thought the Nix looked more threatening in the 18 yard box but wasted two easy scoring chances.

Yeh- we had 3 very good chances. They had a couple of shots from wide with a defender in attendance. A lot of rubbish distance shooting. Nothing that I felt remotely worried about. 

Feverish

Gotta say. What a bunch of ballbags the Port are

Anything in particular?

martinb

Feverish

Gotta say. What a bunch of ballbags the Port are

Anything in particular?

 
Not really just the vibe of all of them and trying to give it some to teens in the next bay

Chiefy quote when extending our keepers contract. 

"We see huge potential upside with Josh and want to invest in him along with Alby Kelly-Heald and Dublin Boon, the other two ‘keepers we have here,” Italiano said.

“He’s very comfortable with the ball at his feet, is a good shot-stopper, and he’s really dominant in his area"

Well, he must have seen something I haven't...

kwlap

Walker on for Roa Conchie. Bit surprised by that

Not really that surprised. Conchie didn’t offer a great deal to be honest.. no creative vision. Walker at least bought on some energy and tried to create some opportunities 

martinb

Feverish

Gotta say. What a bunch of ballbags the Port are

Anything in particular?

They were throwing sh!t at Nixie when he walked past them…

martinb

Marto

LT01

Outpost

Noah4thenix

Really hope this is a wake up call for the Nix and Chiefy. Our playstyle won't keep fans, especially when we lose like that to our biggest rivals. Kudos to the Port, they came down in numbers and brought a lot of energy, annoying as that is. Gonna stay off Phoenix socials for a while, not in the mood to be taunted by Aucklanders

It's 0-0 in the 88th minute of a hard fought game and then your keeper loses the game for you in a split second of total incompetence. A draw would've been a far result given the spread of big chances to both teams. Considering two of our most dangerous attacking players only came on in the last 10-15 minutes I thought we were ok, and I'm not sure why a wake up call is needed for anyone. Unless it's for our bloke with the gloves on.

We created a couple of big ones that we should've tucked away but honestly Auckland were the team that actually consistently went forward and tried to create during the game. We were just waiting around for the right counterattack to come.

Case in point of that is 7 shots to their 18.

I'm not sure I agree with that stat. Very few of their chances were threatening. I'd say only two were even save worthy, the shot early on that Oly saved and the second goal. Other then that I thought the Nix looked more threatening in the 18 yard box but wasted two easy scoring chances.

Yeh- we had 3 very good chances. They had a couple of shots from wide with a defender in attendance. A lot of rubbish distance shooting. Nothing that I felt remotely worried about. 

Also letting the other team press forward and take lots of shots while we wait for the counterattack is tactically pretty much how we came second in the league last season.

Chiefy has a lot to answer for. 

Such a big crowd for NZ’s first professional football derby, and to turn out absolute dross is unforgivable.

We didn’t do anything well today. Negative football, far too slow and backwards thinking. Just sh!t.

nufc_nz

martinb

Feverish

Gotta say. What a bunch of ballbags the Port are

Anything in particular?

They were throwing sh!t at Nixie when he walked past them…

They threw drinks at their own players after the first goal as well

Outpost

martinb

Marto

LT01

Outpost

Noah4thenix

Really hope this is a wake up call for the Nix and Chiefy. Our playstyle won't keep fans, especially when we lose like that to our biggest rivals. Kudos to the Port, they came down in numbers and brought a lot of energy, annoying as that is. Gonna stay off Phoenix socials for a while, not in the mood to be taunted by Aucklanders

It's 0-0 in the 88th minute of a hard fought game and then your keeper loses the game for you in a split second of total incompetence. A draw would've been a far result given the spread of big chances to both teams. Considering two of our most dangerous attacking players only came on in the last 10-15 minutes I thought we were ok, and I'm not sure why a wake up call is needed for anyone. Unless it's for our bloke with the gloves on.

We created a couple of big ones that we should've tucked away but honestly Auckland were the team that actually consistently went forward and tried to create during the game. We were just waiting around for the right counterattack to come.

Case in point of that is 7 shots to their 18.

I'm not sure I agree with that stat. Very few of their chances were threatening. I'd say only two were even save worthy, the shot early on that Oly saved and the second goal. Other then that I thought the Nix looked more threatening in the 18 yard box but wasted two easy scoring chances.

Yeh- we had 3 very good chances. They had a couple of shots from wide with a defender in attendance. A lot of rubbish distance shooting. Nothing that I felt remotely worried about. 

Also letting the other team press forward and take lots of shots while we wait for the counterattack is tactically pretty much how we came second in the league last season.

image.png 13.7 KB

Feverish

martinb

Feverish

Gotta say. What a bunch of ballbags the Port are

Anything in particular?

 
Not really just the vibe of all of them and trying to give it some to teens in the next bay

 
Probably do them good to visit a real football town. 

My take is it’s the same culture top to bottom
Mowbrays-> McFlynn (and Becker?) -> Corica-> the Port. Combative and/or entitled folk who it would be fair to say are not popular across the board. The fun banter club! Nose tweakers! But all the fouls were coming from Sydney F.C.?

I want us to crush them. Clone Rufer and play him up front too. I want 4-0. Own goals is still their top scorer yeh?

Still I noticed that Gallegos talks to himself just as angrily as he talks to everyone else, so while I think he should have several cards to his name, at least he’s consistent. 

LT01

Outpost

martinb

Marto

LT01

Outpost

Noah4thenix

Really hope this is a wake up call for the Nix and Chiefy. Our playstyle won't keep fans, especially when we lose like that to our biggest rivals. Kudos to the Port, they came down in numbers and brought a lot of energy, annoying as that is. Gonna stay off Phoenix socials for a while, not in the mood to be taunted by Aucklanders

It's 0-0 in the 88th minute of a hard fought game and then your keeper loses the game for you in a split second of total incompetence. A draw would've been a far result given the spread of big chances to both teams. Considering two of our most dangerous attacking players only came on in the last 10-15 minutes I thought we were ok, and I'm not sure why a wake up call is needed for anyone. Unless it's for our bloke with the gloves on.

We created a couple of big ones that we should've tucked away but honestly Auckland were the team that actually consistently went forward and tried to create during the game. We were just waiting around for the right counterattack to come.

Case in point of that is 7 shots to their 18.

I'm not sure I agree with that stat. Very few of their chances were threatening. I'd say only two were even save worthy, the shot early on that Oly saved and the second goal. Other then that I thought the Nix looked more threatening in the 18 yard box but wasted two easy scoring chances.

Yeh- we had 3 very good chances. They had a couple of shots from wide with a defender in attendance. A lot of rubbish distance shooting. Nothing that I felt remotely worried about. 

Also letting the other team press forward and take lots of shots while we wait for the counterattack is tactically pretty much how we came second in the league last season.

image.png 13.7 KB

That’s the final score with the two easy chances in the box. 
We had the best of the chances before the keeper’s implosion.

martinb

LT01

Outpost

martinb

Marto

LT01

Outpost

Noah4thenix

Really hope this is a wake up call for the Nix and Chiefy. Our playstyle won't keep fans, especially when we lose like that to our biggest rivals. Kudos to the Port, they came down in numbers and brought a lot of energy, annoying as that is. Gonna stay off Phoenix socials for a while, not in the mood to be taunted by Aucklanders

It's 0-0 in the 88th minute of a hard fought game and then your keeper loses the game for you in a split second of total incompetence. A draw would've been a far result given the spread of big chances to both teams. Considering two of our most dangerous attacking players only came on in the last 10-15 minutes I thought we were ok, and I'm not sure why a wake up call is needed for anyone. Unless it's for our bloke with the gloves on.

We created a couple of big ones that we should've tucked away but honestly Auckland were the team that actually consistently went forward and tried to create during the game. We were just waiting around for the right counterattack to come.

Case in point of that is 7 shots to their 18.

I'm not sure I agree with that stat. Very few of their chances were threatening. I'd say only two were even save worthy, the shot early on that Oly saved and the second goal. Other then that I thought the Nix looked more threatening in the 18 yard box but wasted two easy scoring chances.

Yeh- we had 3 very good chances. They had a couple of shots from wide with a defender in attendance. A lot of rubbish distance shooting. Nothing that I felt remotely worried about. 

Also letting the other team press forward and take lots of shots while we wait for the counterattack is tactically pretty much how we came second in the league last season.

image.png 13.7 KB

That’s the final score with the two easy chances in the box. 
We had the best of the chances before the keeper’s implosion.

 We had two quality chances and not a lot else. Both came from counterattacks.

Np

Nix are looking good but still need that final bit of cohesion. Barring a brain fart at the worst moment, it was a good intense game. Second goal is just a last ditch attempt gone wrong so not really going to lose sleep over that. Auckland looked great, and their results have backed that up. Looking forward to the rest of the season let's go NZF!

No they didn’t 🤣 Auckland looked average at best, and it was nothing but suicide by the nix that got them anything. Ultimately, it was an equally game that deserved to be a draw, nothing more.

Trouble for Wellington is that the deep-lying, deadly-countering tactics served them brilliantly last season…but the cattle aren’t quite as good this time round. Wayward long balls and fluffed chances that would’ve found their target last season.

The tactics are valid, but when the team can’t execute them, it’s very ugly to watch. Imagine how yuck Ranieri’s Leicester would’ve been without Kante, Vardy and Mahrez.

Rufer’s cross wasn’t a counter. Kosta’s shot might have been, but a lot of his goals last season came from transitions. 

Not that good yet. Missing Retre and Rojas. 

But agree Kraev, Zawada and Old big losses. 
I think Nagasawa and Ishige have been good, but we’re missing a goal scorer so far.

WanderingSheep

Np

Nix are looking good but still need that final bit of cohesion. Barring a brain fart at the worst moment, it was a good intense game. Second goal is just a last ditch attempt gone wrong so not really going to lose sleep over that. Auckland looked great, and their results have backed that up. Looking forward to the rest of the season let's go NZF!

No they didn’t 🤣 Auckland looked average at best, and it was nothing but suicide by the nix that got them anything. Ultimately, it was an equally game that deserved to be a draw, nothing more.

They also have 9 points from three games. And they haven’t conceded yet.

You can spin it any way you want but they have made a very strong and impressive start to an a-league season.

Buffon II

WanderingSheep

Np

Nix are looking good but still need that final bit of cohesion. Barring a brain fart at the worst moment, it was a good intense game. Second goal is just a last ditch attempt gone wrong so not really going to lose sleep over that. Auckland looked great, and their results have backed that up. Looking forward to the rest of the season let's go NZF!

No they didn’t 🤣 Auckland looked average at best, and it was nothing but suicide by the nix that got them anything. Ultimately, it was an equally game that deserved to be a draw, nothing more.

They also have 9 points from three games. And they haven’t conceded yet.

You can spin it any way you want but they have made a very strong and impressive start to an a-league season.

Their defense is good. 
De Vries v Payne and Sutton v Sakai was a great battle which deserved better than that conclusion. 

Pijnaker and Hall have been solid and Pijnaker is a big solid unit when he’s compared to normal people, not Boxall or Wood etc etc.

You can equally say they’ve had a lot of the rub of the green. No check on the WWE from De Vries, an Oggie against Brisbane, a VAR disallowed goal against Sydney, a winner which may have touched the scorer’s hand before it crossed the line, a few cards the refs left out there. All things that can happen, but it’s quite a good run in your first few games. 

Plus they’re yet to head to a hostile away game in a different country with a tricky time zone or deal with any injury issues yet. 

It’s a good start, but certainly didn’t control or dominate today’s game. 

We’ll see how things go once their luck averages out and tbf once Moreno settles, as he equally looks a decent player.

Still disappointed, but have calmed down somewhat now.

A couple of thoughts from me
a) Are we too nice? 
I haven't looked at the stats or anything, but for a game of that significance, it felt like we just fell a wee bit flat in aiming up - not getting stuck in and losing more 50/50's than what would otherwise feel acceptable. 

Maybe that's just me, but that's what it felt like, and I do like me a bit of Roy Keane and a bit of biffo/aggro "Even if we're second best, just smash into him you know? Just to make me feel a bit better" - Well that's what I thought anyway.

b) Marco needs to get fit and quickly! We were relatively toothless in that final third, and its probably too much to expect the young lads like Walker and Conchie to fill that void. Leads into my third and final thought

c) If we're vertically challenged up top, why do we insist on swinging in aerial crosses? If anything we should be looking to get to the byline and cutting back to players running into the top of the 18 yard box, or pulling off a CB's shoulders and dropping in/around that penalty spot. Again maybe that's just me, but you'd think we'd realize by now the limitations we're facing stature wise. 

At the moment it just feels like we're so confused about what we're trying to achieve in that final third. 

Time to get smarter! I'd also argue that we need to get more players looking to get to the byline! But one problem at a time.

Standing over our keeper after his howler won't win Auckland many friends.

As a Nix fan I would have settled for a draw tbh. Apart from some excellent play from Rufer it was mainly AFC in the second half. Sure Isaghi missed an open goal but Auckland were controlling play. They started well in the first half but we managed to get into the game but just couldn’t score. The shots on target after an hour was 9 to AFC 3 to Nix which said it all.
Tactically it was an arm wrestle for most of the match. They pressed high and in numbers and we were struggling to pass through it.
I think in the end we were just underdone at this stage of the season. We desperately need to get our new signings fit and on the park. Absolutely gutted to lose in front of such a big crowd. Won’t go on about the keeper brain fart but how will he recover from that.

Oluwayemi's pass is absolute nonsense. Watching the replay, he's not just trying to split 2 but 3 Auckland players!

imanixsupporter

I'm rather frustrated that the Nix have yet again put on a bad show for a big crowd. They always do it. I think the only time they've won in front of an unusually large crowd that I can remember was the homecoming game against Western United.

I understand everyone's frustration at Josh, but I'll again say that he was excellent today prior to the first goal. He actually looked really assured passing it around and made some decent stops. It truly was a moment of madness, not something that was inevitable or coming. I agree with others that he did not inspire confidence against Western United, and I'll be honest I didn't properly watch the Perth game, but I was impressed today and thought before the goal that maybe he was worth that contract extension after all. So I feel like a few people here are allowing the incident to warp their view of him, and I think we should give him a break and hope that it is just a blip, because it really could be. 

It wasn't as glaring a mistake as today's but Paulsen played a bad pass away at Sydney last year, that lead directly to them scoring.

Without a big bodied striker to go long to, I'm guessing Chiefy will just keep persisting with this game plan. Oluwayemi will just have to execute better. But yeah the better teams are going to come to the ROF with a plan to press high, and likely do it well. Welly's coolest summers make it easier to press all game. More difficult in 30 degree Aussie heat.

martinb

Rufer’s cross wasn’t a counter. Kosta’s shot might have been, but a lot of his goals last season came from transitions. 

Not that good yet. Missing Retre and Rojas. 

But agree Kraev, Zawada and Old big losses. 
I think Nagasawa and Ishige have been good, but we’re missing a goal scorer so far.

"Missing Retre and Rojas". That's the key statement.
Chiefy promised more stylish, less rope a dope football, when Rojas and the 2 Japanese players were signed. Retre is also part of that plan.

A proper assessment of how the Nix may go this season is when Marco Paulo have played a few games together. The worry is they could both be a bit injury prone.


Edit - great to see 13 Kiwis start a game in the ALM, easily a record I imagine. 6 for AFC & 7 for the Nix. Another 4 came off the pine. Toomey had an impressive, clever cameo for Auckland. Might be a few regrets at the Phoenix they let him go.

Marto

maynardf

Smeltz4PM

Hate to be dramatic but I really struggle to visualise us getting much out of this without Rufer on the park

  I am really hoping this is a dramatic bait and switch.
Rufer recovers by game day - starts - man of he match...

I think you got it bang on. Him and Wootton were the best Nix players today by a long way. Ruf should have had an assist too.

I'm really struggling with our best players being a solid DM (yes he nicked the ball away well once and got a cross to a good area) and a solid center defender.
Rufer who made some amazing long passes last season, is now just "solid". There is currently no inventiveness in this team.
We'll probably make the top 6 because tactically we're good and we'll concede very few goals.

Rufer had a fantastic game in Perth, and from memory played a few delightful longer balls in that game. He likely didn't train all week in the leadup to the derby, with his swollen knee. You prepare poorly or can't prepare as in this case, you just don't play as well as you could. You can't judge Rufs much on this game.

Looking forward to him & Retre operating in tandem with Rojas in front of them. Fingers crossed it happens soon.

martinb

Feverish

martinb

Feverish

Gotta say. What a bunch of ballbags the Port are

Anything in particular?

 
Not really just the vibe of all of them and trying to give it some to teens in the next bay

 
Probably do them good to visit a real football town. 

My take is it’s the same culture top to bottom
Mowbrays-> McFlynn (and Becker?) -> Corica-> the Port. Combative and/or entitled folk who it would be fair to say are not popular across the board. The fun banter club! Nose tweakers! But all the fouls were coming from Sydney F.C.?

I want us to crush them. Clone Rufer and play him up front too. I want 4-0. Own goals is still their top scorer yeh?

Still I noticed that Gallegos talks to himself just as angrily as he talks to everyone else, so while I think he should have several cards to his name, at least he’s consistent. 

You don't think Wellington is a real football town?