Season 21/22

theprof

they've been doing that for the men's test matches. Crowds were allowed but each section could only have 100 people in it.
It's still not going to make any difference for the nix.
Travelling here to stay is fine, but going back and forth across the Tasman isnt going to be simple for some time to come.

NZ play England at Eden Park (I presume not EP no 2!) March 20th. So at 10% of capacity that's a max crowd of 5,000. 

Probably not enough to justify bringing a Nix game to NZ. But I'm hopeful that by sometime April there would be a further loosening of crowd restrictions.

theprof

I doubt we'll be getting any home games this season, unless they are playoff games. Can't see the restrictions for crowds coming off until end of May,

Borders to tourists will be open before then. Peak is due end March, so I don’t see why we can’t see the last game or two here? Given no self isolation now, I’m hopeful we’ll get a couple, at least. Obviously it depends if they drop us down a light system too.

Rugby pushing for an ease in crowd restrictions 

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/weekend-sport/audio/avan-lee-getting-crowds-back-to-games/

something a little odd about why the request has come about, they are annoyed that the Women's CWC can have crowds of 20% capacity, so 3000 at the basin on sunday and rugby can have pods of 100.
I'd say they work out the same. If you did pods of a 100 in each bay at the stadium you'd hit 3600 which is the same number of people. 20% of capacity is 7200 at Sky Stadium. I'm not sure the rugby argument holds much water.

Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer out for a year with season-ending injury

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/300540744/wellington-phoenix-captain-alex-rufer-out-for-a-year-with-seasonending-injury

Really feel for the lad. He has become a very reliable DM and is incredibly well respected within the changing room. Wish him a full and speedy recovery

That is shark news, probably having his best season too. Can only blame himself though, the tackle was reckless and unnecessary.

Puts our squad under immense pressure now.

Means a new captain needed with Alex out (speedy recovery to the lad).  I would go for Scott Wootton personally.  He has settled in well and his obvious vocal contribution shows he is a natural leader

Walsall Boy

Means a new captain needed with Alex out (speedy recovery to the lad).  I would go for Scott Wootton personally.  He has settled in well and his obvious vocal contribution shows he is a natural leader

Bally should be captain until Sail returns

EDIT: except he of course is suspended for a week! Maybe Payne?

Told ya! Border opening to aussies start April and uk/yanks 01 may 👍 obviously depends on how we go, but we may yet get a game here!

WanderingSheep

Told ya! Border opening to aussies start April and uk/yanks 01 may 👍 obviously depends on how we go, but we may yet get a game here!

So our last game is on the 29th of April so unless we secure a home playoff we'll only get one game or if we get international players an exemption to travel we may get a few.

wilbaker

WanderingSheep

Told ya! Border opening to aussies start April and uk/yanks 01 may 👍 obviously depends on how we go, but we may yet get a game here!

So our last game is on the 29th of April so unless we secure a home playoff we'll only get one game or if we get international players an exemption to travel we may get a few.

According to Ultimate A League
April 16th Vs CCM and 
April 24th Vs WSW 
are both home games that do not have a venue allocated.
+ there are some catch up games. Which at least one. Vs Mel City is a home game yet to be scheduled.

Still hoping that the team get some sort of exemption to make the games happen. Obviously we don't have many internationals, but it would seem silly given they've in effect been living in aussie for the last wee while.

Also need crowd restrictions eased to make it worth there while.

If they do the 20% capacity that they're doing for the CWC then we're looking at 6.5k or something like that.

Not 25k, but still more than they're getting in Australia.

Ryan

If they do the 20% capacity that they're doing for the CWC then we're looking at 6.5k or something like that.

Not 25k, but still more than they're getting in Australia.

But considering the extra accommodation costs (say 3-4 nights for 25 people) plus return flights and I'm sure other costs - sadly may just not be worth it for only 6,500 folks. Especially considering will be an already tight schedule of many mid week games in April, plus plenty of interstate flights.

Increased 50% capacity, so over 15,000 and yes that would definitely help Nix's bottom line a small amount. But don't even think those two 20,000 plus home crowds last season, made much of a dent in large financial loss for that season.

I guess it's the more intangible stuff of having a true home game, connecting with the fans for a few days etc etc - that may make Welnix try persuade other clubs the exercise would be worthwhile.

That means no 20% thing for attendances?

martinb

That means no 20% thing for attendances?

Seems like they need 50%, maybe 40%, for it to be worthwhile

andrewvoerman

martinb

That means no 20% thing for attendances?

Seems like they need 50%, maybe 40%, for it to be worthwhile

Play at a smaller (cheaper) venue, problem solved.

Poco

andrewvoerman

martinb

That means no 20% thing for attendances?

Seems like they need 50%, maybe 40%, for it to be worthwhile

Play at a smaller (cheaper) venue, problem solved.

And how in anyway would that help offset the major costs of flights and accommodation, of playing a game(s) in NZ you financial wizard?

coochiee

Poco

andrewvoerman

martinb

That means no 20% thing for attendances?

Seems like they need 50%, maybe 40%, for it to be worthwhile

Play at a smaller (cheaper) venue, problem solved.

And how in anyway would that help offset the major costs of flights and accommodation, of playing a game(s) in NZ you financial wizard?

exactly, there are fixed costs which need to be recovered to make game day profitable. Venue is one, but flights, accommodation for the team are not those. Besides what smaller venue are you referring too? There arent any in Wellington that meet the requirements/standards for TV or A-League in the Wellington area

Michael Burgess @mikeburgess99

Nix Coach Ufuk Talay 'very confident' of up to 3 home games to end the season, including one in Auckland. 

Great news. Imagine the crowds.
https://twitter.com/mikeburgess99/status/1504230552354066436


Phillip Rollo @ByPhillipRollo

So some good news for the Nix re upcoming games. With luck they could actually have a more full strength squad than Melb City for game April 1st. Just Payne likely absent with AWs.

https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/march-squad-announcement
Future Mrs Maclaren not a huge football??
Melbourne City FC striker Jamie Maclaren* will depart camp following the Japan fixture due to his wedding!!

Socceroos play 24th (Sydney) & 29th March (Jeddah).

Nix play Glory 26th March & Melb City 1st April. Socceroos call ups for -

Glory - Fornaroli
Mel City - Maclaren, Leckie, Metcalfe & Tilio

Fornanoli will definitely miss Glory's Nix game, and Melb City may be short of some of their Socceroos (long trip back from Saudi Arabia). Maclaren depends on his wedding date I guess!!

coochiee

So some good news for the Nix re upcoming games. With luck they could actually have a more full strength squad than Melb City for game April 1st. Just Payne likely absent with AWs.

https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/march-squad-announcement
Future Mrs Maclaren not a huge football??
Melbourne City FC striker Jamie Maclaren* will depart camp following the Japan fixture due to his wedding!!

Socceroos play 24th (Sydney) & 29th March (Jeddah).

Nix play Glory 26th March & Melb City 1st April. Socceroos call ups for -

Glory - Fornaroli
Mel City - Maclaren, Leckie, Metcalfe & Tilio

Fornanoli will definitely miss Glory's Nix game, and Melb City may be short of some of their Socceroos (long trip back from Saudi Arabia). Maclaren depends on his wedding date I guess!!

Hope Sturridge gets to play. 

Apparently this is the third or fourth wedding date McLaren has had due to COVID - I imagine at some point his partner put her foot down.

Our goal average is a bit worrying

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/128108725/wellington-phoenixs-depth-to-be-tested-as-aleague-men-fixture-flurry-begins

They’re hoping it will include proper home matches in Wellington and Auckland after the New Zealand border reopens to Australians on April 12.

A total of three was put out there as a possibility this week, but if next weekend’s Perth fixture stays where it is, and that appears to be the case, there will only be the chance for two, against Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers.

The other home fixture the Phoenix have left is against Melbourne City and is set to be played before the defending A-League champions leave for Thailand and the Asian Champions League group stage, which starts on April 15.

All up, the Phoenix will have to play something along the lines of 11 matches in the space of 36 days.

11 games in 36 days is a tough ask, and then add a couple of trips across the tasman to Welington/Auckand especially after not really travelling for games.

theprof

11 games in 36 days is a tough ask, and then add a couple of trips across the tasman to Welington/Auckand especially after not really travelling for games.

Yipe I reckon a big part of that recent good run was built off, not having to leave NSW for 2 months. Helped Talay just use the same 12-13 players pretty much, with no taxing interstate flights etc.

Now there is going to be an almost total opposite scenario. I think will be minimum 3 interstate flights (incl Perth) in these 11 games?? Plus at least one TT trip maybe. Uffie will need to use most of the squad from now onwards.

Hopefully they can rejig the draw and so have the  2 planned NZ games (WSW & CCM), in the same week, making 1 midweek (Auckland game?). So avoiding a midweek game back over in Aussie, separating the 2 - like there was last season from memory. But the seemingly powerful Auckland sponsors may have a say in that unfortunately. All moot until crowd restrictions are eased.

And though would be disappointing if Nix now didn't make the top 6, season has actually gone considerably better to date than I thought it would. But is going to be a tough ole finish. Will need some injury free luck from here methinks.

coochiee

theprof

11 games in 36 days is a tough ask, and then add a couple of trips across the tasman to Welington/Auckand especially after not really travelling for games.

Yipe I reckon a big part of that recent good run was built off, not having to leave NSW for 2 months. Helped Talay just use the same 12-13 players pretty much, with no taxing interstate flights etc.

Now there is going to be an almost total opposite scenario. I think will be minimum 3 interstate flights (incl Perth) in these 11 games?? Plus at least one TT trip maybe. Uffie will need to use most of the squad from now onwards.

Hopefully they can rejig the draw and so have the  2 planned NZ games (WSW & CCM), in the same week, making 1 midweek (Auckland game?). So avoiding a midweek game back over in Aussie, separating the 2 - like there was last season from memory. But the seemingly powerful Auckland sponsors may have a say in that unfortunately. All moot until crowd restrictions are eased.

And though would be disappointing if Nix now didn't make the top 6, season has actually gone considerably better to date than I thought it would. But is going to be a tough ole finish. Will need some injury free luck from here methinks.

 Maybe something like Midweek (Aus), Sunday(Welly), Friday(Auckland), Midweek(Aus)

billyspleen75

coochiee

theprof

11 games in 36 days is a tough ask, and then add a couple of trips across the tasman to Welington/Auckand especially after not really travelling for games.

Yipe I reckon a big part of that recent good run was built off, not having to leave NSW for 2 months. Helped Talay just use the same 12-13 players pretty much, with no taxing interstate flights etc.

Now there is going to be an almost total opposite scenario. I think will be minimum 3 interstate flights (incl Perth) in these 11 games?? Plus at least one TT trip maybe. Uffie will need to use most of the squad from now onwards.

Hopefully they can rejig the draw and so have the  2 planned NZ games (WSW & CCM), in the same week, making 1 midweek (Auckland game?). So avoiding a midweek game back over in Aussie, separating the 2 - like there was last season from memory. But the seemingly powerful Auckland sponsors may have a say in that unfortunately. All moot until crowd restrictions are eased.

And though would be disappointing if Nix now didn't make the top 6, season has actually gone considerably better to date than I thought it would. But is going to be a tough ole finish. Will need some injury free luck from here methinks.

 Maybe something like Midweek (Aus), Sunday(Welly), Friday(Auckland), Midweek(Aus)

But 11 games in 36 days (5 weeks) means there has to be a midweek game every week, until the season ends.

So either they sandwich a mid week game back in Aus, between 2 weekend games in NZ - adding to an already heavy game/travel load. 

Or they make one of 2 proposed NZ games a mid weeker, lessening the travel load.

either way it's not going to be ideal, especially given the international games being played and our injuries. The squad is looking pretty thin and player welfare has to be taken into consideration as well as giving us home games.
playing on saturday, travelling to wellington and playing on thursday and then travelling to auckland and playing on Sunday and then playing Weds/Thursday after travelling back to Aus is in no way ideal. Its bordering on unsafe.

theprof

either way it's not going to be ideal, especially given the international games being played and our injuries. The squad is looking pretty thin and player welfare has to be taken into consideration as well as giving us home games.
playing on saturday, travelling to wellington and playing on thursday and then travelling to auckland and playing on Sunday and then playing Weds/Thursday after travelling back to Aus is in no way ideal. Its bordering on unsafe.

With that sort of schedule you'd really have to use the full squad. But I'm sure the club are desperate to have a couple of home games with big gates & reconnecting with the fans.

If that means having to rest senior players, and bring in the youngsters for 1-2 games over a schedule like that - you just do it. So if there are a few more 4-0 drubbings like the Jets on the weekend, you just have to roll with it. Learnings for the kids.

At the moment 2 of the interstate trips (Melb City 1st April & Roar 6th April), will be over fairly early on. So hopefully mid April can just be NSW & NZ games. But yeah we be a tough 5 weeks, that is hopefully pretty injury free.

Roar & VUC also have to play 11 games to finish their seasons. Glory & Jets 10 games.

But yeah Melb City & Adelaide both with 7 games only to play - that's a much lighter playing load. And Melb City has great depth as it is.
https://us.soccerway.com/national/australia/a-league/20212022/regular-season/r64754/

coochiee

billyspleen75

coochiee

theprof

11 games in 36 days is a tough ask, and then add a couple of trips across the tasman to Welington/Auckand especially after not really travelling for games.

Yipe I reckon a big part of that recent good run was built off, not having to leave NSW for 2 months. Helped Talay just use the same 12-13 players pretty much, with no taxing interstate flights etc.

Now there is going to be an almost total opposite scenario. I think will be minimum 3 interstate flights (incl Perth) in these 11 games?? Plus at least one TT trip maybe. Uffie will need to use most of the squad from now onwards.

Hopefully they can rejig the draw and so have the  2 planned NZ games (WSW & CCM), in the same week, making 1 midweek (Auckland game?). So avoiding a midweek game back over in Aussie, separating the 2 - like there was last season from memory. But the seemingly powerful Auckland sponsors may have a say in that unfortunately. All moot until crowd restrictions are eased.

And though would be disappointing if Nix now didn't make the top 6, season has actually gone considerably better to date than I thought it would. But is going to be a tough ole finish. Will need some injury free luck from here methinks.

 Maybe something like Midweek (Aus), Sunday(Welly), Friday(Auckland), Midweek(Aus)

But 11 games in 36 days (5 weeks) means there has to be a midweek game every week, until the season ends.

So either they sandwich a mid week game back in Aus, between 2 weekend games in NZ - adding to an already heavy game/travel load. 

Or they make one of 2 proposed NZ games a mid weeker, lessening the travel load.

Ahh yea you're right. I didn't realize it was THAT tight.
Only other idea would be utilizing Easter Monday or ANZAC Monday

reality check though, if and when the team comes home I want to be seeing the 1st XI play and win, not the academy boys getting schooled.

theprof

reality check though, if and when the team comes home I want to be seeing the 1st XI play and win, not the academy boys getting schooled.

I'm sure they will be mix & match selections. But yes sometimes for example Ball will need to be rested for Old or Van Hattum, and similar type rotation selections will constantly be required. The long recent run (all games in NSW) of using only 12-13 players is over.

Magnificentman

Our goal average is a bit worrying

 Just as well goal average doesn't count then.

Phillip Rollo @ByPhillipRollo·