Sherbert Set to Name New Faces for The Planes
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From the Stuff site
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So will George and Filipe get a run? I hope so, and Covs off the bench to put a few past his old club
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Coach Ricki Herbert will make a few changes to tomorrow's Wellington Phoenix team to give a few late bloomers the chance to press for places in the A-League soccer season opener on August 26.
Some players are coming off injuries and a few are still catching up on match fitness, and Herbert is planning to put them alongside some regulars against Newcastle at the Westpac Stadium.
The match is the last in the Pre-season Cup for both teams, with the winners claiming a fifth finish, and the last chance for them to sort out a starting side for the season proper which kicks off on August 24.
The Phoenix will meet defending champions Melbourne Victory in Wellington first-up on August 26, after upsetting them 2-1 in the Pre-Season Cup last Saturday in Melbourne.
Tomorrow's match will still be a serious encounter, Herbert said.
"No holding back, it has to be a decent hit-out," he said.
One of the players looking forward to the game more than others is veteran striker Vaughan Coveny, a former Newcastle player.
Coveny, 35 and who recently retired from the All Whites after becoming their all-time top scorer, is likely to come off the bench to play in front of his home fans.
"I'm loving it here. I'm enjoying my soccer at the moment and it can't be better than finishing your career in front of your family and friends," he said.
"I'm happy with my fitness. I am where I want to be. Physically, I'm feeling really good."
He said the team's progress, including Pre-Season Cup wins over Sydney and Melbourne, gave the team much-needed confidence.
"We still have to fine-tune a few things. We've been up and down - started off slowly and came good."
"We think we are going to be competitive and we think we're going to surprise a few teams."
"We want to set a precedent here (Wellington) that it's going to be tough when teams come here. Ricki's put together a group of players that we believe can make the top four.
"But it's going to be a long, hard season. Trips away from home I think will be our biggest obstacle."
Coveny, who scored two goals in New Zealand's first victory on European soil when they beat Georgia 3-1 in Germany last year, has scored 30 goals in his 75 international games.
He said he still had friends in the Newcastle team and was keen for some action against them.
"They're still a quality team, they've still got some good players."
------------------------------------------------So will George and Filipe get a run? I hope so, and Covs off the bench to put a few past his old club
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Gotta love Coveney's last comments - Italics are mine
"They're still a quality team (in spite of the fact that
I've left), they've still got some good players (besides
their best player, me, who has left)." 
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Will Tim be fit to face his previous too?
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Ricki interview on the radio earlier in the week. Pretty sure he
said TB was not fit yet.
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Old, Spoonley, Tim, Barbarouse unavailable, also Lia i think.
So possibly: Paston in goal??? Christie to RB, Johnson to CM, Smeltz & Brownlie to start, Daniel & Felipe behind them, George/Coveny off the bench in the second half....
GK: Paston
RB: Christie CBT: Dodd CBT: Cleberson LB: Lockhead
CMF: Johnson CMF: Aloisi (c)
OMF: Felipe OMF: Daniel
CF: Smeltz CF: Brownlie
So possibly: Paston in goal??? Christie to RB, Johnson to CM, Smeltz & Brownlie to start, Daniel & Felipe behind them, George/Coveny off the bench in the second half....
GK: Paston
RB: Christie CBT: Dodd CBT: Cleberson LB: Lockhead
CMF: Johnson CMF: Aloisi (c)
OMF: Felipe OMF: Daniel
CF: Smeltz CF: Brownlie
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So is Costa injury free? I really want to see how he goes after
some coaching from Ricki.
a.haak
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Costa is fit,but away on international duty .
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Yeah Costa's performance would be interesting. Its a shame he
doesnt get to see much game in pre-season, cause hell be seeing
more bench than anything this season.
I hope ricki gives him a shot, 10 minutes here and
there.
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WELLINGTON PHOENIX V NEWCASTLE JETS
Westpac Stadium, Wellington 7.30 tonight
Phoenix: Mark Paston, Vince Lia, Cleberson, Karl Dodd, Tony Lochhead, Ross Aloisi (c), Daniel, Jeremy Christie, Felipe, Royce Brownlie, Shane Smeltz. Substitutes, Glen Moss, Steve O'Dor, George, Richard Johnson.
Its going to be interesting to see how Felipe and
Lia go, and George off the bench, Cleberson back!! no goals
for the Jets now!! haha... really it doesn't matter who we put up
on the paddock we will always look good on paper
Rocky2007-08-10 09:05:23
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Our news page has the squad down as follows:
Wellington Phoenix: Mark Paston, Jeremy Christie, Tony
Lochhead, Karl Dodd, Ross Aloisi (captain), Vaughan Coveny, Shane
Smeltz, Daniel, Richard Johnson, Steven O'Dor, George Paladini,
Vince Lia, Glen Moss, Felipe Campos, Royce Brownlie.
no Clebo
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oh sweet lia's all good. Id like to see more of Felipe and George.
Start them give them a chance!
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Yeah Costa's performance would be interesting. Its a shame he
doesnt get to see much game in pre-season, cause hell be seeing
more bench than anything this season.
I hope ricki gives him a shot, 10 minutes here and
there.
why would he be seeing more bench during the season? excuse the ignorance.. haha. but hasn't he been a rather integral player when playing?
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He hasn't played in any pre-season cup games because of the U-17
commitments. Hard News2007-08-10 14:02:55
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ahh sorry, disregard that. thinking of Cortes
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