Can't see anything other than a Phoenix win, just quietly. And a good win too. Just got that feeling.
I don't think they'll win. They are doing well at the moment, but like Ifill said, that 4-1 loss at home was a kick up the backside, and I think we'll play well. have we even ever lost to the moroners?
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Second ever A-League game, 3-0. Cleberson hopelessly exposed about 40 times in each half.
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CCM are a different team these days with all of their small playmakers (Perez, Amini, little Mac, Bozanic - all very good players) so it will be interesting.
a.haak
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Im still not convinced that we have turned the corner. Yip we picked up a nice win against Perth, but they are arguably the worst team in the league right now with 8 losses and a draw in the last 9 games. Great goal by Tim, but once again we still have very little chances that we create. Our best chances are still coming from the opposition making defences blunders. Playing like that will get us points against the weaker teams but clearly isnt working against stronger opposition. And Central Coast have looked pretty good so far this season, they will certainly test our defence more than what Perth did. This will be a bloody tough game.
I think Pavlovic needs more time on the field. Looked inexperienced in front of goal but that will improve, and he has looked really good with the one and two touch football which is what we are seriously lacking. He linked up really well with the midfield when he started previously.
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Thought Daniel was ordinary, to say the least, last night
Very ordinary....but other than Paston most were " very ordinary too ".... But what a result....play ordinary and get 3 points will do me for a few weeks
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Second ever A-League game, 3-0. Cleberson hopelessly exposed about 40 times in each half.
One of Clebo's better games then!
We're the WELLINGTON Phoenix
And this is our Home
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4-1 to the Nix imo
Yellow Fever - Misery loves company
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Im still not convinced that we have turned the corner. Yip we picked up a nice win against Perth, but they are arguably the worst team in the league right now with 8 losses and a draw in the last 9 games. Great goal by Tim, but once again we still have very little chances that we create. Our best chances are still coming from the opposition making defences blunders. Playing like that will get us points against the weaker teams but clearly isnt working against stronger opposition. And Central Coast have looked pretty good so far this season, they will certainly test our defence more than what Perth did. This will be a bloody tough game.
.
I think Pavlovic needs more time on the field. Looked inexperienced in front of goal but that will improve, and he has looked really good with the one and two touch football which is what we are seriously lacking. He linked up really well with the midfield when he started previously.
Yup!
Not enough pace around the park. Slow passing game. Not much player movement. No attacking central midfielder. Too much air ball.
We could grind out a win IF Lia and Brown muscle them in midfield and we get a bit of Ifill brillance and the defense finally plays as a unit. But in reality many A-League teams have stepped up a notch in terms of the pace they play the game and we have not matched them. We seem to have to fight like crazy just to get parity and then rely on a mistakes by the opposition to give us goal scoring chances or some spectacular individual play.( Browns goals in the last two matches)
I like watching spectacular goals but it would be great to see some well crafted team goals as well.
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You have been our bogey team for the best part of 3 years now.
The last time we scored against you was 19th Jan 08 at Bluetongue. This was also the last time we beat you - 2-zip, Aloisi (2nd half) & Kwassie (90+4).
The last time we scored against you at the Cake Tin was 21st Oct 07 - Heff got the first and Sasho the winner at 90+1. Interestingly, Elrich got your goal.
What that all mean for the next game ... HHMMMMM not sure ... but I will be happy with a win... and your big guys must leave of littleies alone ... no fouls no hacking ...
The last time we scored against you was 19th Jan 08 at Bluetongue. This was also the last time we beat you - 2-zip, Aloisi (2nd half) & Kwassie (90+4).
The last time we scored against you at the Cake Tin was 21st Oct 07 - Heff got the first and Sasho the winner at 90+1. Interestingly, Elrich got your goal.
What that all mean for the next game ... HHMMMMM not sure ... but I will be happy with a win... and your big guys must leave of littleies alone ... no fouls no hacking ...
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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We have Siggy so our players are as much at risk as yours.
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I don't think last Sunday's line-up will, by the end of the season, be anything like our best starting 11 however stability and consistently are important as we endeavor to get the season back on track.
Over the next few weeks I hope we see greater involvement and contributions from Ward, Pav and Hearfield. We will need their creativity and pace if we are to compete with the likes of the Roar and Adelaide. I think their involvement will be initially off the bench and then increase as suspensions get incurred.
I am also looking forward to Lochhead's return for the business end of the season - not because I particularly rate him but because I would far prefer Manny to be freed up to play DM.
Stability of the starting line up in the short term with a change in bench personnel - grind out some more wins / draws and phase in Ward, Pav, Hearfield and, hopefully, Lochhead.
He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)
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well if siggy gets another yellow, he may see north take his place for the longterm.
Not from my seat in the stands. Siggy would be on the sheet well before North, who just seems to be out of position and/or play people onside to me
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Im still not convinced that we have turned the corner. Yip we picked up a nice win against Perth, but they are arguably the worst team in the league right now with 8 losses and a draw in the last 9 games. Great goal by Tim, but once again we still have very little chances that we create.
I agree.
Perth were terrible, and any half decent finishing would have seen us losing that game.
On the limited squad we have , we may as well have Hearfield back and certainly Ward.
People slag off Daniel but I wonder how anyone would play after 2 years of 10 minute cameos, and that is your only proper game time?
Id like to see Daniel play cos we are at home and we need to win these games which means taking the game to the oppo, not just picking up scraps when available. Daniel can get the ball to our forwards, something Bertos, for all his strengths, doesnt do well enough.
If having McAllister means we are gonna ping long meaningless high balls forwards, then Id go with Pav.
So Id play
Paston
Hearfield Sigmund Durante Muscat
Bertos Elliott Brown Daniel
Greenacre Ifill
Ifill can have a totally free role
Subs : Pav, North, Ward
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I get the feeling that if the team wasn't changed after a 4-1 loss, it won't be after a 1-0 win. Same XI, probably Ward in for Rojas on the bench.
liverpoolfan12010-11-10 20:24:09
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The last time we scored against you at the Cake Tin was 21st Oct 07 - Heff got the first and Sasho the winner at 90+1. Interestingly, Elrich got your goal.
.
Ugh, I remember that game - I think Plodder gave away the goal.
Was a cracker by Elrich too - too bad it was the only thing he ever did
a.haak
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The other CCM game I remember well was when we scored in the first minute (game was at RoF) and managed to hold them out for the rest of the game, despite many a narrow squeak. I thought of this game immediately when Brown scored the other night and got that sweating stomach churning feeling when you know you are about to go through 90 minutes of sheer hell.
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i think if we can grind out a win here, will give a lot of confidence to the team, and make them better for it. we may not of played our best game ever last week, but we did enough to win, and if we do enough to win week in week out ill be a happy man
i do however believe that if we can grind out a result here with more confidence we might start seeing better performances
i do however believe that if we can grind out a result here with more confidence we might start seeing better performances
Calling all fans in Japan, come down and support the mighty nix in Osaka
http://www.facebook.com/WellingtonPhoenixClubMembersSupportersGroupOsaka
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Both captains have fashioned pretty amazing records....Andrew Durante hasn't missed a minute in the last 43 Phoenix matches, but that's dwarfed by Alex Wilkinson who, by my count, has played every minute of every one of the Mariners' last 78 matches....staggering.
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I agree, Pav definitely needs more time on the field, in fact, why don't we try out our new players? Give toto at least 20 minutes on the field, and not to mention Rojas.
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Looking foward to this game, while we weren't anything special against perth I could easily see us beating CCM. They have been getting results this season but they haven't been particualy fantastic and we always seem to play well against them.
Hoping for two at the front, Give the MacGreenie combo a go, if Mac doesn't perform sub for Pav.
We win 3-0. Maybe.
Hoping for two at the front, Give the MacGreenie combo a go, if Mac doesn't perform sub for Pav.
We win 3-0. Maybe.
"Yellow Fever are fantastic – I have to say that"
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I agree, Pav definitely needs more time on the field, in fact, why don't we try out our new players? Give toto at least 20 minutes on the field, and not to mention Rojas.
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not. I'm hoping you are.
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I agree, Pav definitely needs more time on the field, in fact, why don't we try out our new players? Give toto at least 20 minutes on the field, and not to mention Rojas.
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not. I'm hoping you are.
Especially with Toto being out for a while with a busted knee.
Yellow Whever Whanganui
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anyone who thinks we should play bigmac must surely have impaired sight.
start pav with greenie
start pav with greenie
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whatever happened to our perpetual no-show DIEGO?
" If you only have a hammer you tend to see every problem as a nail" - maslow
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Yeah Diego must really be sh*t if we aren't ever going to see him, I presonally think if he played he would suprise a lot of us.
Surely over one season he can't have gone from playing well in the ACL, to not even being higher picking than, Brown, Ward, Lia etc?
Wonder if its an attitude problem?
Surely over one season he can't have gone from playing well in the ACL, to not even being higher picking than, Brown, Ward, Lia etc?
Wonder if its an attitude problem?
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I think one of the reasons we are struggling is there really isnt that much depth in the side. Two of our overseas signings dont even play, and Daniel never gets more than 10 minutes. You look at some of the teams performing well and their overseas players are crucial to their performance.
Just like Ifill is crucial to the phoenix, only problem is that we rely on him to much. In these others sides if one of their overseas players isnt firing, another is. Really have to question some of our recruiting.
Personally I think someone needs to make room for Clapham. After seeing him carve Team Wellington apart, by beating players at will and always putting in pinpoint crosses, freekicks and corners, I just dont understand how this player has been overlooked, not just in the A-League but also why he hasnt had more game time for the All Whites. I believe he could easily play in the A-League possibly even thrive as I think better ball players around him would really improve his game even more. Is he going to be another Kosta that Ricki Herbert overlooks?
Just like Ifill is crucial to the phoenix, only problem is that we rely on him to much. In these others sides if one of their overseas players isnt firing, another is. Really have to question some of our recruiting.
Personally I think someone needs to make room for Clapham. After seeing him carve Team Wellington apart, by beating players at will and always putting in pinpoint crosses, freekicks and corners, I just dont understand how this player has been overlooked, not just in the A-League but also why he hasnt had more game time for the All Whites. I believe he could easily play in the A-League possibly even thrive as I think better ball players around him would really improve his game even more. Is he going to be another Kosta that Ricki Herbert overlooks?
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My ideal squad from whats on offer:
Paston
Sigmund Durante North
Elliott
Bertos Brown Muscat Daniel
Ifill Greenacre
Subs:
Ward, Pav, Hearfield and obvious who the keeper on the bench is
Limited to the fact Lochead is the only left footed player apart from Daniel in the entire squad Daniel starts out wide left.
Would normally prefer playing 4 at the back, but just not sure whether Hearfield is quite up to it. I know a lot of people will disagree with me here.
Brown whether you like him or not has 2 goals in 2 games.
Think Muscat is more valuable in the midfield than the defence, he has shown he can play a nice through ball and one-two touch football to set up goals.
Last Post for a while I promise. Its not an ideal starting line-up, but what I believe is the best of what we have.
Paston
Sigmund Durante North
Elliott
Bertos Brown Muscat Daniel
Ifill Greenacre
Subs:
Ward, Pav, Hearfield and obvious who the keeper on the bench is
Limited to the fact Lochead is the only left footed player apart from Daniel in the entire squad Daniel starts out wide left.
Would normally prefer playing 4 at the back, but just not sure whether Hearfield is quite up to it. I know a lot of people will disagree with me here.
Brown whether you like him or not has 2 goals in 2 games.
Think Muscat is more valuable in the midfield than the defence, he has shown he can play a nice through ball and one-two touch football to set up goals.
Last Post for a while I promise. Its not an ideal starting line-up, but what I believe is the best of what we have.
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Wellington Phoenix defender ANDREW DURANTE is set to make his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance.
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 4. Nick WARD, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Chris GREENACRE, 11. DANIEL, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 14. Mirjan PAVLOVIC, 15. Jade NORTH, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 19. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21. Marco ROJAS, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Dylan MACALLISTER, 26. Simon ELLIOTT
*three to be omitted*
In: Nick WARD (promoted), Troy HEARFIELD (promoted), Mirjan PAVLOVIC (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Tony LOCHHEAD (groin - 5 weeks), Oscar ROBERT CORNEJO (knee - 5 weeks)
Central Coast Mariners squad: Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 17. Chris DOIG, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 22. Mustafa AMINI, 23. Adam KWASNIK, 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk).
*two to be omitted*
In: Trent SAINSBURY (promoted)
Out: John HUTCHINSON (international duty)
Unavailable: John HUTCHINSON (international duty), Brad PORTER (knee - 12 weeks), Jess VANSTRATTAN (knee - season)
Whitby boy2010-11-11 19:38:44He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)
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According to Wiki John Hutchison plays for Malta. He is unavailable this weekend because of international duty, Manny is available.
Manny has been dropped from the Malta team ?
Whitby boy2010-11-11 19:42:51He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)
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I agree, Pav definitely needs more time on the field, in fact, why don't we try out our new players? Give toto at least 20 minutes on the field, and not to mention Rojas.
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not. I'm hoping you are.
Especially with Toto being out for a while with a busted knee.
oh sh*t . . . thats riiiiight.
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I agree, Pav definitely needs more time on the field, in fact, why don't we try out our new players? Give toto at least 20 minutes on the field, and not to mention Rojas.
Yeah.....Kosta B could have done with some more game time last season
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Wellington Phoenix defender ANDREW DURANTE is set to make his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance.
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 4. Nick WARD, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Chris GREENACRE, 11. DANIEL, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 14. Mirjan PAVLOVIC, 15. Jade NORTH, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 19. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21. Marco ROJAS, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Dylan MACALLISTER, 26. Simon ELLIOTT
*three to be omitted*
In: Nick WARD (promoted), Troy HEARFIELD (promoted), Mirjan PAVLOVIC (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Tony LOCHHEAD (groin - 5 weeks), Oscar ROBERT CORNEJO (knee - 5 weeks)
Central Coast Mariners squad: Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 17. Chris DOIG, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 22. Mustafa AMINI, 23. Adam KWASNIK, 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk).
*two to be omitted*
In: Trent SAINSBURY (promoted)
Out: John HUTCHINSON (international duty)
Unavailable: John HUTCHINSON (international duty), Brad PORTER (knee - 12 weeks), Jess VANSTRATTAN (knee - season)
It's the same person that turned things around for the Nix last time they were struggling.
Ricki, get on the phone to Brian Turner as you are s*ht without him by your side.
A dog with a bone :)
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Not sure Brian Turner is fit enough to make the squad.
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I'm going with 1-0 to the nix, just because it will be a year on since the Bahrain game on the same night, different date obviously.
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Yeah Diego must really be sh*t if we aren't ever going to see him, I presonally think if he played he would suprise a lot of us.
Surely over one season he can't have gone from playing well in the ACL, to not even being higher picking than, Brown, Ward, Lia etc?
Wonder if its an attitude problem?[/QUOTE]
Whenever Diego got a chance he's been less than average for us. People always say this about players they don't see for a while. (happened with Mulligan)
Diego was simply never that good at Adelaide - he only performed well in the ACL (a handful of games). I'm sure he would be better if he didn't constantly get injuries but eh.
The one person that can turn around our performances is not included in that squad.
Surely over one season he can't have gone from playing well in the ACL, to not even being higher picking than, Brown, Ward, Lia etc?
Wonder if its an attitude problem?[/QUOTE]
Whenever Diego got a chance he's been less than average for us. People always say this about players they don't see for a while. (happened with Mulligan)
Diego was simply never that good at Adelaide - he only performed well in the ACL (a handful of games). I'm sure he would be better if he didn't constantly get injuries but eh.
[QUOTE=Whitby boy]
�
Wellington Phoenix defender ANDREW DURANTE is set to make his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance.
�
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 4. Nick WARD, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Chris GREENACRE, 11. DANIEL, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 14. Mirjan PAVLOVIC, 15. Jade NORTH, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 19. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21. Marco ROJAS, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Dylan MACALLISTER, 26. Simon ELLIOTT
*three to be omitted*
In: Nick WARD (promoted), Troy HEARFIELD (promoted), Mirjan PAVLOVIC (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Tony LOCHHEAD (groin - 5 weeks), Oscar ROBERT CORNEJO (knee - 5 weeks)
Central Coast Mariners squad: Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 17. Chris DOIG, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 22. Mustafa AMINI, 23. Adam KWASNIK, 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk).*two to be omitted*
In: Trent SAINSBURY (promoted)�
Out: John HUTCHINSON (international duty)�
Unavailable: John HUTCHINSON (international duty), Brad PORTER (knee - 12 weeks), Jess VANSTRATTAN (knee - season)
The one person that can turn around our performances is not included in that squad.
�
It's the same person that turned things around for the Nix last time they were struggling.
�
Ricki, get on the phone to Brian Turner as you are s*ht without him by your side.
Isn't that our full available squad..?valeo2010-11-11 23:06:46
a.haak
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People have such short memories when it comes to players that have been on the outer for a while.
My starting line-up please Ricki.
Paston
North Sigmund Dura Muscat
Elliott
Brown Ward
Ifill Bertos
Greenie
Bench: Lia, Hearfield, Pav, Vuko
In reality I think Lia and Ward will be swapped over.
My starting line-up please Ricki.
Paston
North Sigmund Dura Muscat
Elliott
Brown Ward
Ifill Bertos
Greenie
Bench: Lia, Hearfield, Pav, Vuko
In reality I think Lia and Ward will be swapped over.
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Come on Greenacre, son. A handy brace to Greenie in a comfortable 2-0 win 
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CCM seem to be pretty set in playing a 41212(442 diamond)/4312. Wouldn't be surprised if Ricki follows the old adage of having 1 extra spare defender and play with 3 at the back.
Could easy argue this on a number of points. Simon and McBreen are hard working and would be easier with a spare man to contain them as well as having less pressure on our central defence when in possession with the spare man.
Then just match CCM in midfield, have a couple of wingers to track runs of the fullbacks that look to get forward or keep them from attacking as much as they have to make sure they don't leave our wingers with too much space.
Might result in a bit of stalemate then with both teams setup to cancel the other and will come down to a lot of individual battle across the field, especially in midfield.
Thinking North as the free man, a bit quicker than Dura and Sigmund and probably better than those two to push forward to create a numerical advantage in midfield (a la Marquez). Picked Lia over Brown, but Ricki would pick both and not have Ward. I assume that Perez is back from injury and will start ahead of Amini.
(busy work day and CCM in 'Nix away kit cause I couldn't be bothered creating a CCM away ket)Bullion2010-11-12 17:24:49
Could easy argue this on a number of points. Simon and McBreen are hard working and would be easier with a spare man to contain them as well as having less pressure on our central defence when in possession with the spare man.
Then just match CCM in midfield, have a couple of wingers to track runs of the fullbacks that look to get forward or keep them from attacking as much as they have to make sure they don't leave our wingers with too much space.
Might result in a bit of stalemate then with both teams setup to cancel the other and will come down to a lot of individual battle across the field, especially in midfield.
Thinking North as the free man, a bit quicker than Dura and Sigmund and probably better than those two to push forward to create a numerical advantage in midfield (a la Marquez). Picked Lia over Brown, but Ricki would pick both and not have Ward. I assume that Perez is back from injury and will start ahead of Amini.
(busy work day and CCM in 'Nix away kit cause I couldn't be bothered creating a CCM away ket)Bullion2010-11-12 17:24:49
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