Wellington Phoenix Men

v Central Coast, Sat 13, 7.30pm

440 replies · 2,803 views
over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Jogabnit wrote:
The crowd has changed
The atmosphere has changed and therefore..
The game has changed,
WE need to back our team like we used to! none of this silence nonsense. We need to get stuck in and hopefully the players will react!
I wasn't at the game but on the telecast the crowd was very vocal. Take your point about supporting the players on the day but it is a 2 way street, at least give us something to be hopeful, about.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Whitby boy wrote:
 
Q. Should we sack him ?
A. No - but get him some help - I think he is running / run out of ideas.
 
 
 
He already has 2 assistants. My view is that if you need to get in extra help you may as well get rid of him and bring someone else in that can do it without the extra help. That is if you think he is not the right man for the job any more. I'm a little torn because this time last year we had just started to come right and you have to give RH kudos for his part in that. Same guy but can he do it again? I don't know.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Junior82 wrote:
On a positive note. We bought 3 red noses so made a small contribution to cure kids.

Did you buy them off our players? hopefully they won't be wearing them next week.....
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Fact is the A League has stepped up a notch in standard , and moved on from where some of our players are. The best sides have spent their money on key positions (notably the big playmaker), and just hired young Oz legs with speed, technique and promise to burn, to complete their jigsaws. We have one of those - Pav - and he can't make RH's squad.
Other clubs play 17 yearolds. We sign 36 yearolds.
Herbert has always considered fielding young players a gamble, because he's a conservative coach - in both selection and sub movement in the second half. The last 2 games, he's named benches that make no sense. Leaving Ward and Pav out only gives you Mac as a real game changing option.
Losing McKain was such a blow, especially as it was clear pre-season that the World Cup was getting in the way of recruitment.
Herbert will sort it - he has no option - otherwise someone will sort it for him.    
Facts are:
- we have no specialist rightback, and get punished, not thru lack of effort of those who've played the role as fill-in
-  North is a  centre-back. Good enough to play CD for Australia, but not for the Nix doesn't make sense.
- Sigmund gives a 120% - no question. But is not a starting X1 player in this comp. 
- Brown needs a break - is getting one week off anyway. Elliot is doing Ok as the defensive midfielder. 
- Bertos is best used as an impact player off the bench only. Drifting in and out of games is not acceptable. The League has moved on from that.
- Daniel would struggle to make the squad
- Hearfield would struggle to make the squad
- Ward has to play. Has the technique to create chances from that attacking midfield role. Something we just don't have at all. Failure to find a class playmaker like Thomas Broich is really hitting home now. The club will need to start their search now for next season. 
- Pav has to be given gametime - he's a real talent.
 
Status quo isn't an option, as they will finish last. They are the worst performing side in the comp right now. Perth play better football.
 
 
 
         
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Brown was yellow carded. Was that his 5th and if so , does that mean next week off? PLEASE.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
zinidane wrote:
Hows this for starters
 
 I counted 9 longballs pumped up to Greenie....and he never won a single one of them. So why....match after match, do we keep doing it. IT DOES NOT WORK
 
Brown, Elliot and Lia are all holding midfielders...they are slow and don't create much Don't KEEP SELECTING THEM ALL IN THE SAME SIDE 
  
Once I counted 11 passes before we managed to get the ball over half way. The passing is laboured and the player movement is almost non existant.
 
The team is fixable.....the question is do the coaching staff have the ability to do it. 
This has always been the Phoenix style of play. Play it wide and get in crosses. It may have worked when we had Shane Smeltz but not anymore. The passing through the midfield is non existent. The big difference last night was that when a CCM midfielder had the ball, he always had at least 1 and sometime 2 options to pass to.
 
Our players should be at a standard that they can play a nice passing game but even if they aren't, you don't have to be a Pele or Maradona to run into space, lose your marker and give an option. Surely this comes down to what is being preached on the training pitch.
 
Next game, watch the movement off the ball and see the proximaty of the closest Nix player. Leo often gets criticised on here but he's often worst victim. As soon as he gets the ball, everyone else seems to run away from him and he's isolated.
 
We have the players although some of them don't seemed to be getting picked (Ward, Pav)
 
I think it comes back to Ricki but who could do a better job?
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Whitby boy wrote:
 
Q. Should we sack him ?
A. No - but get him some help - I think he is running / run out of ideas.
 
He already has 2 assistants. My view is that if you need to get in extra help you may as well get rid of him and bring someone else in that can do it without the extra help. That is if you think he is not the right man for the job any more. I'm a little torn because this time last year we had just started to come right and you have to give RH kudos for his part in that. Same guy but can he do it again? I don't know.
 
Assuming he is listening to his assistants. I can't imagine they think he should be picking Mac ahead of Pav, not picking Ward ............
 
Herbert strikes me as someone who takes a fair bit convincing once he gets an idea in his head (e.g. 3 at the back). Perhaps he doesn't trust the assistants enough yet to listen when they tell him he is wrong and needs someone like Brian Turner who he will listen to.
 
Who knows - just speculation but he is just about the only one who can't see how poor some of his decisions are.
 
He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
tonya wrote:
- Brown needs a break - is getting one week off anyway.
        


There's also the not insignificant fact that he KICKED THEIR KEEPER IN THE HEAD.

He deserves more than a one week suspension and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets it.

Agree with everyone on here about Ward and Pav - completely baffling not to have them in the squad.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Jogabnit wrote:
The crowd has changed The atmosphere has changed and therefore.. The game has changed, WE need to back our team like we used to! none of this silence nonsense. We need to get stuck in and hopefully the players will react!
I wasn't at the game but on the telecast the crowd was very vocal. Take your point about supporting the players on the day but it is a 2 way street, at least give us something to be hopeful, about.


If that was a vocal crowd then i guess i need to get my ears checked
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
A few points,

- Brown's comments in the paper yesterday were poor I thought. He said he was sick of all his critics and that it was hard to score goals from midfield. He's living in a dreamland. I'm pretty sure his critics are not complaining about his goalscoring form not being the same as last year but more his going missing during games.

- Ricki's comments post match that he is worried by our wasting chances shows he is living in the same dreamland as Brown. Our biggest chances - Elliott and Greenacre - were hardly wasted more just unlucky. Our only really wasted chance was Durante and maybe MacAllister. We hardly wasted heaps of chances that could have won us the game.

- Nick Ward. He is not in the squad because he spoke out against Ricki's defensive tactics. So Ricki didn't like this. Also heard Pavlovic got into some sort of trouble, not sure what though, which is why he isn't in the side. Not certain on Pavlovic though.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
tonya wrote:
The best sides have spent their money on key positions (notably the big playmaker), and just hired young Oz legs with speed, technique and promise to burn, to complete their jigsaws. We have one of those - Pav

Pav has to be given gametime - he's a real talent.   

 
Please give some evidence to support this.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
If Phoenix ever need a new coach/coaches then they'll only have to select one of many from this site. Hard to believe that there are so many mediocre teams in NZ when so many  so many GREAT coaches are sat here staring at their keyboards....
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe. 
20/5/20

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
dairyflat wrote:
If Phoenix ever need a new coach/coaches then they'll only have to select one of many from this site. Hard to believe that there are so many mediocre teams in NZ when so many  so many GREAT coaches are sat here staring at their keyboards....
..
I think its great that so many people have an opinion and feel strongly enough to post it. Everyone who has a passion for the club and a passion for football is completely Ok to post what they think should change.
I would be more worried if people did not post.....because if they did not it means they don't care and then the club is really f**ked!!!
 
Its harmless fun....it just lets people let off a bit of steam!!!!
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
tonya wrote:
.�The best sides have spent their money on key positions (notably the big playmaker), and just hired young Oz legs with speed, technique and promise to burn, to complete their jigsaws. We have one of those - Pav - and he can't make RH's squad.
Other clubs play 17 yearolds. We sign 36 yearolds.



Not sure if it's possible as not sure how strong your youth teams are ... but just on the youth in the side and the skill also � look at the summary almost every
Australia player in the team has been in a national side.

A list of Mariner squad and a brief history..

Goal Keepers

Matthew Ryan ? DOB ? Apr 8, 1992 ? 18 YO

Defenders

Pedj Bojic ? DOB ? Apr 9, 1984 ? 26 YO ? Australia?s 2001 FIFA Under-17
Chris Doig ?. DOB ? Feb 13, 1981 ? 29 YO
Sam Gallagher ? DOB ?May 5, 1991 .. 19 YO ? Qantas Young Socceroos
Rostyn Griffiths ? DOB ? Mar 10, 1988 .. 22 YO ?Australia Under 16?s and Under 17?s
Joshua Rose ? DOB ? Dec 16, 1981 ? 29 YO
Trent Sainsbury ? DOB .. Jan 5, 1992 ? 18 YO ? Qantas Young Socceroos
Marc Warren ? DOB ? Feb 11, 1992 ? 18 YO .. Qantas Young Socceroos
Alex Wilkinson ? DOB ? Aug 13, 1984 .. 26 YO ?Qantas Young Socceroos
Defender? Patrick Zwaanswijk age 35

Midfield

Mustafa Amini ? DOB .. Apr 20, 1993 ? 17 YO ? Qantas Young Socceroos
Oliver Bozanic ? DOB .. Jan 8, 1989? 21 YO ? full Qantas Socceroo ( 1 match), Qantas Young Socceroos
John Hutchinson ? DOB .. Dec 29, 1979? Don?t laugh International for Malta
Matthew Lewis ? DOB ? Jun 6, 1990 ? 20 YO?
Michael McGlinchey ? DOB .. Jan 7, 1987 ? 23 YO.. New Zealand International, Scotland Under 20?s
Bradley Porter ? DOB ? Feb 19, 1987 ?. 23 YO ?Australian U 20 & U 23
Patricio Perez ? unknown ? 25 YO ? Argentine under 20

Forwards

Adam Kwasnik ? DOB ? May 31, 1983? 27 YO
Daniel McBreen ? DOB .. Apr 23, 1977 ?33 YO.. named in the Qantas Socceroo squad against Indonesia
Matt Simon ? DOB ? Jan 22, 1986 ? 24 YO .. Qantas Socceroos matches Asian qualifiers
Nik Mrdja ? DOB .. Nov 30, 1978 ? 32 YO .. Socceroo

Watch for Sam Gallagher, Trent Sainsbury & Marc Warren � these three boys hand picked by GA � each along with Amini was selected for the U 20 team � and in the final all were selected but one was injured and could not play�

But we had on the park last night ... a 18 yo goalkeeper, left mid 20 yo, Def M just 22 yo, Att Mid (Amini) 17, right mid 24....

Also Trent Sainsbury 18 yo, on the bench...we have 7 players in our squad under 22....

Don't you have a U 20 national team to get players, remembering a major reason for the Nix's inclusion in the A-League is to develop NZ football ..


Midfielder2010-11-14 13:34:13

Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
the ginger afro is the source of Amini's powers.Azevo2010-11-14 13:49:18

We will never fully decide who has won the football.

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
We need Lochhead back and we need him back fast.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
yep we need the 2 tonys back, Tony Lochhead and Tony Pignata.

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
that dude in the duracel durante costume was awesome!
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Phil B. wrote:
We need Lochhead back and we need him back fast.
 
Is that the height of our ambition?....and Tony Lochhead to put things right?....I think not

" If you only have a hammer you tend to see every problem as a nail" - maslow

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Jogabnit wrote:
Jogabnit wrote:
The crowd has changed The atmosphere has changed and therefore.. The game has changed, WE need to back our team like we used to! none of this silence nonsense. We need to get stuck in and hopefully the players will react!
I wasn't at the game but on the telecast the crowd was very vocal. Take your point about supporting the players on the day but it is a 2 way street, at least give us something to be hopeful, about.


If that was a vocal crowd then i guess i need to get my ears checked
Try these for size
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Midfielder wrote:
Not sure if it's possible as not sure how strong your youth teams are ... but just on the youth in the side and the skill also � look at the summary almost every
Australia player in the team has been in a national side.

Don't you have a U 20 national team to get players, remembering a major reason for the Nix's inclusion in the A-League is to develop NZ football ..
 
True, but the team also need to get results in order to put bums on seats, and to remain a credible entity within the league.
 
We can't pick a team full of youth players, if they're going to be cleaned up every week. Remember, the Aussie young players having been playing in the so-called YL with older, experienced players, which must be helping their development immensely. Until this season, the Nix haven't had that option.


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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
- Nick Ward. He is not in the squad because he spoke out against Ricki's defensive tactics. So Ricki didn't like this. Also heard Pavlovic got into some sort of trouble, not sure what though, which is why he isn't in the side. Not certain on Pavlovic though.
when/where was this?

Founder

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

- Nick Ward. He is not in the squad because he spoke out against Ricki's defensive tactics. So Ricki didn't like this. Also heard Pavlovic got into some sort of trouble, not sure what though, which is why he isn't in the side. Not certain on Pavlovic though.


I also heard this re. off-field trouble.

Another major factor for me is confidence. A friend of mine was told by one of the players last week that the team prettymuch expected to lose in perth.

Said player went as far as to recommend putting money against the nix. Now this was hardly an integral squad member, but if this is the kind of attitude within the camp, then something is seriously wrong.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I've heard stuff about players who don't like the inconsistencies within the team, with players etc week in and out. Also heard that players are semi confused with tactics because they are different every week...
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
CboZ wrote:
I've heard stuff about players who don't like the inconsistencies within the team, with players etc week in and out. Also heard that players are semi confused with tactics because they are different every week...


LOL  obviously someone is pulling your leg, because they are the same tactics each time...


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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
hepatitis wrote:

CboZ wrote:
I've heard stuff about players who don't like the inconsistencies within the team, with players etc week in and out. Also heard that players are semi confused with tactics because they are different every week...
LOL� obviously someone is pulling your leg, because they are the same tactics each time...


Lol, this. Formations and team is different every week though, in your defence
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
wolfman wrote:
Midfielder wrote:
Not sure if it's possible as not sure how strong your youth teams are ... but just on the youth in the side and the skill also � look at the summary almost every Australia player in the team has been in a national side. Don't you have a U 20 national team to get players, remembering a major reason for the Nix's inclusion in the A-League is to develop NZ football ..

�

True, but�the team also need to get results in order to�put bums on seats, and to remain a credible entity within the league.

�

We can't pick a team full of youth players, if they're going to be cleaned up every week. Remember, the Aussie young players having been playing in the so-called�YL with older, experienced players, which must be helping their development immensely. Until this season, the Nix haven't had that option.


Four players from you U 20 team... the Mariners have four from the U 20 and another 3 from the U 23 side...

Young legs eager to show how good they are... remember the Mariners had four players under 22 on the park last night and an 18 yo on the bench...

Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
A few points,

- Brown's comments in the paper yesterday were poor I thought. He said he was sick of all his critics and that it was hard to score goals from midfield. He's living in a dreamland. I'm pretty sure his critics are not complaining about his goalscoring form not being the same as last year but more his going missing during games.

- Ricki's comments post match that he is worried by our wasting chances shows he is living in the same dreamland as Brown. Our biggest chances - Elliott and Greenacre - were hardly wasted more just unlucky. Our only really wasted chance was Durante and maybe MacAllister. We hardly wasted heaps of chances that could have won us the game.

- Nick Ward. He is not in the squad because he spoke out against Ricki's defensive tactics. So Ricki didn't like this. Also heard Pavlovic got into some sort of trouble, not sure what though, which is why he isn't in the side. Not certain on Pavlovic though.


this is what i was thinking aswell

Brown's comments to me summed up why the nix aren't doing well this season, i don't care if he doesn't score goals, but so far this season he is trying to make a where's wally book, and he doing a good job, cause i for onecan't seem to find him

Calling all fans in Japan, come down and support the mighty nix in Osaka

http://www.facebook.com/WellingtonPhoenixClubMembersSupportersGroupOsaka

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
A few points,

- Nick Ward. He is not in the squad because he spoke out against Ricki's defensive tactics. So Ricki didn't like this. Also heard Pavlovic got into some sort of trouble, not sure what though, which is why he isn't in the side. Not certain on Pavlovic though.
This is surely the only explanation.
Ward is just the player we need, Ive been impressed with all his games.
If he did speak out against Ricki, then he was bloody well right.
 
Ricki, you can continue your arrogant attitude if you like, but Im afraid it is going to catch up with you before too long.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
UKandy wrote:
A few points,

- Nick Ward. He is not in the squad because he spoke out against Ricki's defensive tactics. So Ricki didn't like this. Also heard Pavlovic got into some sort of trouble, not sure what though, which is why he isn't in the side. Not certain on Pavlovic though.
This is surely the only explanation.
Ward is just the player we need, Ive been impressed with all his games.
If he did speak out against Ricki, then he was bloody well right.
 
Ricki, you can continue your arrogant attitude if you like, but Im afraid it is going to catch up with you before too long.
you are taking that speculative comment as a statement of fact

Founder

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Its simple, bin the keeper, he doesn't and never has controlled, the defence, last season early on he had Mcain to do that, then sanity prevailed and we had  Crowther in the gap, and  with him and mcain it all came right, it aint rocket science!!!!!!!!!!
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Feverish wrote:
UKandy wrote:
A few points,

- Nick Ward. He is not in the squad because he spoke out against Ricki's defensive tactics. So Ricki didn't like this. Also heard Pavlovic got into some sort of trouble, not sure what though, which is why he isn't in the side. Not certain on Pavlovic though.
This is surely the only explanation.
Ward is just the player we need, Ive been impressed with all his games.
If he did speak out against Ricki, then he was bloody well right.
 
Ricki, you can continue your arrogant attitude if you like, but Im afraid it is going to catch up with you before too long.
you are taking that speculative comment as a statement of fact
Yes I am cos I cant see any other possible explanation
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Feverish wrote:
- Nick Ward. He is not in the squad because he spoke out against Ricki's defensive tactics. So Ricki didn't like this. Also heard Pavlovic got into some sort of trouble, not sure what though, which is why he isn't in the side. Not certain on Pavlovic though.

when/where was this?


Two people, one a relative of Ricki and the other a guy that knows a few of the players and coaching staff.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Feverish wrote:
- Nick Ward. He is not in the squad because he spoke out against Ricki's defensive tactics. So Ricki didn't like this. Also heard Pavlovic got into some sort of trouble, not sure what though, which is why he isn't in the side. Not certain on Pavlovic though.

when/where was this?


Two people, one a relative of Ricki and the other a guy that knows a few of the players and coaching staff.
mint sauce

Founder

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
ShowUsYaNix wrote:
hepatitis wrote:

CboZ wrote:
I've heard stuff about players who don't like the inconsistencies within the team, with players etc week in and out. Also heard that players are semi confused with tactics because they are different every week...
LOL� obviously someone is pulling your leg, because they are the same tactics each time...


Lol, this. Formations and team is different every week though, in your defence


I think they were more confused with whats happening etc, as in whose going to be playing and so on.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Phil B. wrote:
We need Lochhead back�and we need him back fast.


I am hoping that you have been on the juice this afternoon.

If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Feverish wrote:
- Nick Ward. He is not in the squad because he spoke out against Ricki's defensive tactics. So Ricki didn't like this. Also heard Pavlovic got into some sort of trouble, not sure what though, which is why he isn't in the side. Not certain on Pavlovic though.
when/where was this?
Hearfield, Ward & Pavlovic all missed the Perth trip for off-field reasons.
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Feverish wrote:
Feverish wrote:
- Nick Ward. He is not in the squad because he spoke out against Ricki's defensive tactics. So Ricki didn't like this. Also heard Pavlovic got into some sort of trouble, not sure what though, which is why he isn't in the side. Not certain on Pavlovic though.

when/where was this?
Two people, one a relative of Ricki and the other a guy that knows a few of the players and coaching staff.

mint sauce


Agree that it's pointless to comment on pure speculation but I can't really think of any other reason to not even put Ward on the bench unless he's secretely carying an injury.

More interested in Pavlova, though...Macallister has been pretty damn ineffective and Pavlova at least shows a bit of drive when he comes off the bench.

a.haak

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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Leggy wrote:
Phil B. wrote:
We need Lochhead back�and we need him back fast.


I am hoping that you have been on the juice this afternoon.


at least if Lochy were back Manny could paly in mid - where he was so effective early season
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over 15 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I'm just  a new poster here and I don't want to come off as anti-Ricki ; I'm not , yet ( I'm a Liverpool fan , and I'm not anti Hodgson yet; sh*t my teams have had a great weekend ).
Back on topic- I'm wondering what's changed so much from last year with substantially the same squad.
I thiink we're all agreed that the midfield isn't playing cohesively but with the exception of Ward and , latterly , Elliot , don't we have basically the same players there? Fred didn't play long enough to make a difference and Caceres was sub player at best ( I did like him though).Brown and Lia are capable players but not perforimg this year.Also too similar in style to play effectively together and if they're both off their games , where's the creativity coming from?
 
Up front we have the same starting players but one key difference to me is Ifill's from. Last year , he was absolutely one of the best players in the league ; this year , he has flashes of pure skill but it isn't enough. Leo drifts in and out but he did that last year.Grennie is playing the same way he did last year and is a good workman - like striker; he'll score if he gets good service which he isn't getting this year. 
 
2 players we do miss ( IMO) are McKain and Lockhead. I don't particularly rate Lockhead ( never the same after he came back from Middlesborough) but he is a  natural left footer , and more importantly , allowed Moosecat to play in a DM role . He really started to get to grips with this as last year proceeded.McKain was just immense and made Dura look really good. 
 
But can a team go backwards so much just from losing two players? I wouldn't have thought so but recruitment seems to have been poor.
 
3 things make a good football team ( I stress IMO)
1.players
2.selection
3.tactics/coaching
 
In order , 1.are the players good enough?Mostly yes , a couple I'm not convinced about.
Brings me to 2 and 3. Selection and tactics are intertwined.And that is solely down to Ricki.He'll pick players who can play the way he wants which is a naturally conservative syle from watching his teams  over the past few years. But it isn't working at the moment. Both Brisbane and CCM were quicker , more accurate and showed more hunger.That is also attitude ; can't coach that but if the players are on board with tactics and selection then they play" happier" 
 
This is fixable but i'm starting to wonder if the current coaching team can do it.They got rid of Stu Jacobs a couple of years ago ; I wonder if something that drastic needs to be considered now.
 
Like I  said at the start , I'm not anti-Ricki but once a coach loses the players , he's history.It isn't the losing that pisses me off the most but the insipid way we're playing.I hope it changes soon- they're a hard watch at the moment.
 
Sorry for the rant.
 
 
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