Wellington Phoenix Men

Thoughts on the match (Game 1 - 2007)

127 replies · 8,536 views
over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Once we got over the nerves, the passing in midfield was decent and meant we could launch attacks. 
I'm aiming at the Sydney match as the airfare drops then, could do one of those Websaver InterCity things, pity the rail link between Auckland and Wellington barely exists.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
For those of you claiming that you should of got the three points, don't get ahead of yourself.

Only showing up to play for the last 20 when you're 2-0 down is stupidly lucky regardless of who you are or how good your last 20 is.  Your back four were playing a dangerous game against Allsopp and Thompson throughout, playing for the offside.  When they're in a bit more touch and are timing their runs better you'll see four put past you if you keep playing like that, and some of those calls were borderline.  Well done on the point anyways.

Lochead is a complete c*nt by the way, ljubo is now out for 4-6 weeks due to his 'tackle', should've been a yellow at least, late, from behind, and obviously dangerous.  In the end that's probably what got you your point though, remove our only decent aerial defender then get two goals from the head.

Hmmm
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
 Absoluted delighted: GREAT DAY OUT!!!!!Great game and atmosphere: Loved the chant - we are not auckland. Sung and yelled my voice away. fortunately 2 weeks to recover; Will be back for more.
GO THE PHOENIX!!!!!!!
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Lochead is a complete c*nt by the way, ljubo is now out for 4-6 weeks due to his 'tackle', should've been a yellow at least, late, from behind, and obviously dangerous.  In the end that's probably what got you your point though, remove our only decent aerial defender then get two goals from the head.

Hmmm


...and Leijer killed the first half of Middleby's season last year and got nothing for the cheapest shot I've seen this side of Tiatto and, oh, your captain.  Thank christ the Melbourne fans that came here have some class...



Hard News2007-08-27 11:05:44

How's my driving? - Whine here

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Heh, bit of a difference when middleby ran into leijer, who didn't move and just braced himself by turning his shoulder.  If middleby wants to run straight into a massive central defender it's his problem if he gets injured.

Completely different from a cynical, dangerous tackle from behind.  Don't pretend you don't know that hard news.

In the end 2 all reflected the balance of play, but i'm not going to say that you weren't lucky or that your defence was watertight, because that would be lying.  In the end we had enough chances to bury you guys, we didn't, then our defence went all to sea, it sucks but it happens.

I guess that's what you get when you play ex adelaide defenders...
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
A-League champions? You're avin a laugh
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

re arrange these words grapes like sounds sour!!

loki wrote:
Heh, bit of a difference when middleby ran into leijer, who didn't move and just braced himself by turning his shoulder.  If middleby wants to run straight into a massive central defender it's his problem if he gets injured.

Completely different from a cynical, dangerous tackle from behind.  Don't pretend you don't know that hard news.

In the end 2 all reflected the balance of play, but i'm not going to say that you weren't lucky or that your defence was watertight, because that would be lying.  In the end we had enough chances to bury you guys, we didn't, then our defence went all to sea, it sucks but it happens.

I guess that's what you get when you play ex adelaide defenders...

The answer to life's problems are rarely found at the bottom of a beer glass - but it's always worth a look.

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
loki wrote:
For those of you claiming that you should of got the three points, don't get ahead of yourself.

Only showing up to play for the last 20 when you're 2-0 down is stupidly lucky regardless of who you are or how good your last 20 is.  Your back four were playing a dangerous game against Allsopp and Thompson throughout, playing for the offside.  When they're in a bit more touch and are timing their runs better you'll see four put past you if you keep playing like that, and some of those calls were borderline.  Well done on the point anyways.
 
Missing a penalty, twice...hitting the post twice and missing a header from point blank, qualifies the Nix to have regared themselves unlucky not to take the full three.
 
Footballs a game of two halfs and it doesnt matter where you get the goals as long as you do!!!
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Try reversing the situation and think about how those grapes would suck if you guys had been up by 2-0 until the 79th minute then capitulated to a draw, and we did capitulate.

Of course there's sour grapes, nothing sucks more than seeing your team f**k up a game that they should have won.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
The Melbourne Age and SMH are telling it like it is, 2 injuries, no malace.  Archie came back too early and Milicevic has nursed it a bit.  Loosing Milicevic might be more telling, because he's a tall lad and can defend well.  Melbourne has definitely had more time on the park, but the Pheonix look like a steam train, just building up and hard to stop once they get going.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Hard News wrote:
Funny you should say that, he is in the same profession... 

Come on down Mr Norman.  Front page of the Dom as well.
 
Damn, If I'd known he was a TV magnet, I wouldn't have stood near him.
 
Last thing I need is Mrs. B seeing me in such states...
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
uncle steve wrote:
Missing a penalty, twice...hitting the post twice and missing a header from point blank, qualifies the Nix to have regared themselves unlucky not to take the full three.
 
Footballs a game of two halfs and it doesnt matter where you get the goals as long as you do!!!


Sure, but you've got to take into consideration Allsopp's shot that was just the wrong side of the upright, Allsopp having a really poor first touch taking him away from goal rather than straight in, the amount of times that you were saved only by the flag...

You had your chances, we had ours, like any game we both botched some of them.  If you look at the balance of play though, your only real decent attacks up until your first goal were the corner that led to the penalty, and Aloisi's shot just off to the side.  If that's all you can produce in 80 minutes, claiming that you should win is a bit rich.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
first of all, the worst result for this game would have been a boring 0-0 draw, with the crowd being turned off etc...
its great to see so many of the nz's enjoyed it.
 
Our first half was magnificant. great passing through the centre, one touch style football and you guys couldnt keep up. If allsopp could have finished better we could have killed of the contest then and there.
Unforetunetly our big man in defence, Milecevic got injured and had to be subbed off, and looking at the result, it may have cost us three points. we lacked a big man in the centre to clear your wide balls in the end. Archie also got injured and that gave us no hope to get a final goal.
The pheonix looked much better when daniel was given some support out wide. he looks like a player that plays of others. maybe ricki should have switched him in the centre in the first half to switch the pheonix on. sort of like a fred role.
I think the 2 -2 draw is a fair result. some of the offside calling was dodgy for us and maybe desrved more, then again, your boys had plenty of chances to put 4-5 in the back of the net.
good game boys, cant wait for the next one.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
We should heve win this by a landslide

Sure Phoenix got a style. Both goals came from a build up attack, where is Melbourne rather punished than created. (I mean both goals came from counter attacks, even the penalty )

Anyway it is better to watch teams actually can show things you can't do (like Ronaldinho at Barca) than robotic play: (eg bundesliga)...

lucky we, so far so good
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Zole im a Phoenix fan but im not stupid.
 
Melbourne were a much better footballing side and proved that in the first half, we were chasing shadows.
 
Good on the team for changing tactics and being more direct but lets be realistic, for the majority of the match Melbourne played much better football.
 
 
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
star21 wrote:
Zole im a Phoenix fan but im not stupid.
 
Melbourne were a much better footballing side and proved that in the first half, we were chasing shadows.
 
Good on the team for changing tactics and being more direct but lets be realistic, for the majority of the match Melbourne played much better football.
 
 
 
Nervous start but should still have been 1 - 1 at half time.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
star21 wrote:
Zole im a Phoenix fan but im not stupid.
 
Melbourne were a much better footballing side and proved that in the first half, we were chasing shadows.
 
Good on the team for changing tactics and being more direct but lets be realistic, for the majority of the match Melbourne played much better football.
 
 


from the TV it looked  different. Sure they got 3-4 times two on one, or one on one, but if you followed Hyunday-A league previously (not like i did), those shots usually hurt more people on the stands than trouble the keeper

the biggest difference that Kknights did Not looked interested before, where is Nix do try.
blame Ricky for that

He showed some stuff with All Whites too (Wales, Georgia).
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
how atrocious was the first half haha!
 
the long ball thing is not only ugly to watch, but when we're not supporting the target man to collect the second ball it pointless. I was cringing when everytime we'd win the ball in defence our two strikers would be storimng to the corners. surely at least one of them has to be running towards halfway? I dunno, just felt our boys up front were getting too far spread from the midfield and defence.
 
but yeah second half was awesome! put a lazy $10 on the nix to get up 3-2 for $400 return and was guuuuuted brownlie struck the post! took a couple mates who knew nada bout football and aboslutely loved the excitement of the game. 90minutes of football.... 90 different emotions! HARDOUT!
 
Good game, shame not to get the 3points but draw is fair for both sides. would like to see us use the ball better along the ground around the box, and see our strikers making more lateral runs ala inzaghi and drag the centre backs around. must have daniel and felipe playing together, but howe it'll work in the formation ricki can sort!
 
and one last thing... did anyone else laugh when the teams came out and lined up facing the empty side of the stadium???! I thought that was quite funny :D
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
zole wrote:
star21 wrote:
Zole im a Phoenix fan but im not stupid.
 
Melbourne were a much better footballing side and proved that in the first half, we were chasing shadows.
 
Good on the team for changing tactics and being more direct but lets be realistic, for the majority of the match Melbourne played much better football.
 
 


from the TV it looked  different. Sure they got 3-4 times two on one, or one on one, but if you followed Hyunday-A league previously (not like i did), those shots usually hurt more people on the stands than trouble the keeper

the biggest difference that Kknights did Not looked interested before, where is Nix do try.
blame Ricky for that

He showed some stuff with All Whites too (Wales, Georgia).
 
there is no doubt that if you compare the approach play of the two teams, melbourne are far better. but come on, they're defending champs! but football isn't only about playing the beautiful football that arsenal play. you gott battle in games, and invariably if you fight hard enough, you get the results.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
IMO  Nix was fiddling too much at first .

in fact it was Melbourne who used long balls four counter attacks and did worked for them.
(like 2-3 passes before shot on goal)
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
loki wrote:
For those of you claiming that you should of got the three points, don't get ahead of yourself.

Only showing up to play for the last 20 when you're 2-0 down is stupidly lucky regardless of who you are or how good your last 20 is.  Your back four were playing a dangerous game against Allsopp and Thompson throughout, playing for the offside.  When they're in a bit more touch and are timing their runs better you'll see four put past you if you keep playing like that, and some of those calls were borderline.  Well done on the point anyways.

Lochead is a complete c*nt by the way, ljubo is now out for 4-6 weeks due to his 'tackle', should've been a yellow at least, late, from behind, and obviously dangerous.  In the end that's probably what got you your point though, remove our only decent aerial defender then get two goals from the head.

Hmmm


WAAAAAAAAH!!!!!
I like tautologies because I like them.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
kiwikoppa wrote:
 
and one last thing... did anyone else laugh when the teams came out and lined up facing the empty side of the stadium???! I thought that was quite funny :D
 
camera's on that side.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
MelbourneFan wrote:
kiwikoppa wrote:
 
and one last thing... did anyone else laugh when the teams came out and lined up facing the empty side of the stadium???! I thought that was quite funny :D
 
camera's on that side.
 
yeah I know that! still comical tho don't you think? not like it's something that can't be sorted for next time...
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I think some people who have been bagging the long balls need to remember Shane Smeltz's goal which he headed from a long ball by Tony Lochhead. The long balls generally are pretty hopeless but I think you would be suprised how many times defences get caught out.
 
phoenix played great, unfortunatly they looked a bit like the knights at the beginning but didnt last long which was great.
 
Im still a bit puzzled about whats up with George Paladini and why he has seen pretty much no game time, he wasnt even on the subs against the Victory, i havent heard of any injury.
 
C'mon Phoenix, should be a great game against the marinators on Friday. I'm glad the fitness seems so good for the team having a Sunday game then going straight to a Friday game, fly time and jet lag must cut out a day of full training or rehab.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

yeah the fitness made a big differnece at the end there
I like tautologies because I like them.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Man_utd_fan wrote:
I think some people who have been bagging the long balls need to remember Shane Smeltz's goal which he headed from a long ball by Tony Lochhead. The long balls generally are pretty hopeless but I think you would be suprised how many times defences get caught out.
 
 
bro that ball was a cross! that's not what we 'longball baggers' are talking about haha
 
what everyone else is talking about is the hoofing of the ball out of defence into the opposition half. and invariably we lose it becuase we don't support the target man. it worked better in the second cos the long balls were more accurate, and the man being passed the ball was better supported. but we have more control when we spread the ball along the deck out of defence. some of old's and locheads longballs out of the back was very much NZFC like
 
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I'm a vocal local supporter but I have to agree with loki.  Melbourne played better for 3/4 of the match.  Much better positioning and passing.  But then, seemingly as soon as Felipe came on we got our act together.

It's actually a good result all round ... lessons about playing 100% of the time ... a lesson for Melbourne about not losing your edge thinking you've got it won, and to the 'nix to say get cracking from the start.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Just watching the game for the first time on DVD.  That moment when the second goal goes in Harry goes off completely you can hear him in the background just firing up.

Superb...

How's my driving? - Whine here

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
...and all through the last 15 minutes Harry is superb, his voice rising and dropping, you can tell he's out of his seat every Phoenix chance.

Forza King Harry !

How's my driving? - Whine here

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I can tell you, from someone not sitting in Aisle 21/22 - we were all out of our seats at every Phoenix chance. ;)
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Might have been interesting if Daniel had headed the penalty rebound into the goal as it would have been disallowed for playing it twice.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I think what they ment when theyr talking about the long balls is when Old gets the ball and instead of just playing it to ross in the mid or out wide again he hoofs it ta smeltz who has 3 men on him.
 
Waste of a possesion.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Zephyr wrote:
Might have been interesting if Daniel had headed the penalty rebound into the goal as it would have been disallowed for playing it twice.
 
waaaat? nah, it owuld have been sweet cos it's general play. only in penalty shoot outs you can't hit the rebounds
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
you cant touch the ball twice. need someone else to touch it first Feverish2007-08-28 12:05:18

Founder

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Yeah the goalie would have to had touch it for it to count.

I think playing felipe with Aliosi would do well - they'd completent eachother. Saying that, maybe Ricki used Plodder as hes more defensive against what is a very strong Melbourne side, then use Felipe as impact. Worked a treat :D

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over 8 years ago

This is the closest thread I can find to a match thread, so I'll bump this.

10 years ago today

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over 8 years ago

A great day!!

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

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over 8 years ago · edited over 8 years ago · History

I remember how depressed I was when those first couple of goals went in. Then the blind, raging optimism when the 2nd somehow bounced off that shoulder...great day. One of only two games I have watched at Westpac.

The fact that second goal went in was a bloody miracle. It had no right to loop over like that.

p.s. I miss Daniel

a.haak

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over 8 years ago

Oh I miss him so much, woh oh oh

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

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