v Fury Mon 27th 10:15pm SS1

Maybe but i'd say that's more to do with North taking responsibility in Durante's absence and finally getting some form back after playing a few games on the trot in his preferred CB role.

Yep!...this looks the side for me as well.

i fully expect us to start with playwithfire's lineup but my preferred starting side would be;

                  Vukovich

When fit, Ward should take Leo's spot. Unless Leo can rediscover some start of last season form, which i doubt.

Wardy was getting better and better and when hes given a wide spot, he has a lot less defensive duties which let him roam around a lot more

Bertos strikes me as not having much of a footballing brain.  He's a good player, I'm not going to take that away from him, but some of the things he does are monumentally stupid and result in your head in your hands and when you look back up at the screen he's just grinning stupidly as if he made the rational choice which, unfortunately, he wasn't quite able to pull off.

Example, against GCU I think it was we had a free kick in a very good position.  We were at least 1-0 down at that stage though possibly 2-0 down and Bertos decides to take the free-kick.  Instead of hitting it over the wall (either to shoot or to cross it to a teammate) he thumps it right at the knees of Djulbic and friends in the wall.  Horribly frustrating.

Fury to unleash against Phoenix

Friday, 24 December 2010
by Kate Morrissy, Sportal

North Queensland Fury need to get 20 points from a possible 27 in their remaining nine games to make the finals starting with their clash against Wellington Phoenix on Monday.

With 14,500 free tickets provided by Queensland Nickel available for the clash the Fury is hoping this will help lift them against Wellington who only have one win away from home.

Fury Striker David Williams said despite the loss 1 - 0 against Central Coast they were looking forward to their must-win clash against the Phoenix.

"We're still upbeat in the sense of this game coming up. It's not as short a turnaround than other games we've had so we've got a little bit more time to prepare but it's a game we've got to go in and just give everything. Like every other game but this one is most important. If we don't win this one it might be our season goodbye then."

Williams expects the North Queensland humidity will get the better of the Phoenix but said they would have the advantage of coming off a win.

"I think they will tire out pretty quick. It's pretty humid but we're used to it. Hopefully it is going to be very tough for them. They've come off the back of a big win against Newcastle the other week so that will play in their favour them."

Williams hoped their game plan would be enough to find the back of the net and secure a much needed three points.

"We will go out there with our game plan and hopefully that's enough to get a result."

The Fury will again be without Osama Malik but striker Adam Casey is expected to be available for selection along with defender Erik Akoto who is also returning from injury.

Wellington have injury concerns of their own with striker Paul Infill and captain Adam Durante in doubt for the clash.

North Queesnland Fury take on Wellington Phoenix at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Monday night at 7.15pm.

Adam Durante...

and they have a new song that's going to make it's debut.

http://nqfury.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=37758

yeah adam seems to have injury concerns!

Dude... That sucks!!! Ill take Carnival de Paris anyday!

I like how the lyrics contain the names of two other teams in them.

I cringed when listening, I'm amazed I subjected myself to the whole recording.

You also missed our star striker Paul 'Infill'

hahah, it's even worse than the phoenix anthem...

Victory is in our sights.

We play with heart, we play to win.

Not quite how you suggested it.

Anyway, sounds like something off Hi-5

i hope the lads have had quiet a different
(and pre-during-post lunch drinks)

lunch menu than i have

So a tropical cyclone has formed off North Queensland.  Hopefully it won't affect the game at all.

Nah..they will have a blast.

banstick..

Here we go then..........

Predicting 40m of rain on Sunday and Monday. Temp around 29. Could be quite wet.
Have had about 280m of rain so far this month.

Hahah yup. Cept maybe Anapos Durantidis

Keen to see Ward back in action!
raynes2010-12-25 23:12:24

would they call it off? Like in that gold coast (?) game last week?
I suppose we'd have to wait and see, but if we're playing in ankle-thick mud, and the ball is barely moving, I'd rather have it called off.

Rain is not always the main determining factor in whether a game gets called off.

Skilled Park suffers from having crap pitch in general, heavy rain just makes it so much worse.

The surface at Dairy Farmers appears rather flat like a bowling green, it will depend how well rain is draining off the pitch as to whether game needs to be rescheduled

Weather forecast for tomorrow is for a chance of thunderstorms. They have had 90m of rain in the last 24 hours.

There was a game cancelled in Townsville last year between NQF and Newcastle (I think) and it may have been about this time last year too.

Match still going ahead as scheduled, as Straka makes no changes

 

North Queensland Fury head coach, Franz Straka, has made no changes to the 15-man who lost 1-nil to the Central Coast midweek for the club�s week 20 Hyundai A-League against Wellington Phoenix on Monday at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

A tropical cyclone and 72 hours of heavy rain has left many parts of North Queensland under water and roads blocked, but thankfully an unofficial pitch inspection of Dairy Farmers Stadium on Sunday afternoon found the playing surface in good condition, thanks to the drainage system, and at this stage the match will be played as scheduled (a formal inspection will take place on Monday when the match referees arrive into Townsville).

The only disappointing news for the Fury is that many supporters may not be able to attend the match due to hazardous driving conditions throughout parts of North Queensland, which might mean the expected record Fury crowd will not come to fruition.

Club sponsor and major supporter of local grassroots sport, Queensland Nickel, have made available over 10,000 free tickets for this fixture and there are still approximately 2,000 available which can be collected at www.ticketek.com.au, from The Fury Shop at Willows Shopping Centre (Townsville) or on the gate, on the night.  Please note that only general admission tickets are now left.

However, utility player, Chris Grossman is excited by the prospect of playing in front of a big home crowd; �I�ve never been at a full Dairy Farmers before, so to get it three-quarters full, I think would be massive.

�We�d love a massive crowd on Monday and hopefully they can be our 12th man and they can spur us home.�

With the future of the Fury still up in the air, Monday�s match is the perfect opportunity for the supporters of North Queensland to send a message to the League, explains Grossman.

�Everyone�s seen the amount of passion the fans up here have for football and I think for future generations, North Queensland must have a team up here.�

Placed second-last, eight points off sixth place and with just nine games remaining, the Fury must pick up at least 20 of a possible 27 competition points to be any chance of an unlikely finals berth.

"It's a game that we have to go into and give everything, like every other game, but this is most important if we don't win this one then it might be our season goodbye," Williams said.

"The way we have performed (lately) has been good but there's no use performing like that if you get no end result.

"So it's disappointing and frustrating, but if we can go out there and offer something back to our fans, the people who turn up every week, for us that will mean something to get a win."

Williams, a two-time Socceroo playing for an Asia Cup call-up ahead of Tuesday's announcement, said an all-or-nothing approach would give the Fury a spark.

"We've got a strong-minded group of boys who are very good at what they do," he said.

"It's the determination and hard work they want to put in ... the effort that will be shown in the game will decide it. And hopefully we can prove a lot of people wrong and get another win under our belt."

seriously?! How can it still go ahead? Haven't they had like 5cm of rain or something ridiculous like that?
bad weekend to have a free game, no one will come if it's raining.
well, sucks for them, it was like that for the gold coast too, I hope it's not like that on the 5th, when we have a free game for kids.
Hopefully they can drain it well . .

Game Day: FIRING UP!!!

fire up!!!

FIRE UP. FARKEN
FIRE UP. FARKEN
FIRE UP. FARKEN
FIRE UP. FARKEN

Might miss this one, which I'm gutted about.  Seeing friends I haven't seen in ages.  Prediction, 3-1 to the Phoenix.  MacAllister, Brown, and Rojas with a Williams goal nothing more than a late consolation.

Finally the stupid festive season is over and we can all have what we really want - a Nix game. Come on you Phoenix! In the words of Michael Jackson (who I understand was a staunch Nix supporter) THIS IS IT!

Attack,Attack,Attack

Im pretty worried about this one, after a good Queensland derby last night and a shout out to the Fury fans from the commentators, there should be a good crowd (free entry) and the Fury will be hyped. On their day they can beat anyone as well, esecially with the likes of Payne, Talay and Williams.

And we struggle away to anyone.
AJ132010-12-27 13:22:11

I have a good feeling about this one, my predicament is 2-1 to the mighty phoenix. (because I'm not sure about 3-1 seeing as we are playing away.) Rojas will assist one of the goals, and Greenie and Big Mac will score.

cheeaaaa.
(though my brother who often uses my account could say something different. who knows.)

See them over a beer or two at the pub watching the game?

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2010/12/27/195721_sport.html

They're saying the pitch has drained well, so it looks like there's not much chance of it not going ahead. SWEET.

The Brother says something different.
We win 2-0, both goals to come in the first half. They won't score against us but they certainly will try very hard, we will be on the back foot for much of the second half (tired) but will threaten on the break.
GO PHOENIX!!!!