vs Jets

daniel and kwasnik to start, but i dnt think kwasnik can go 90. but with him starting, bring costa to the bench to replace him with 30 to go.

whos gonna be in goals?

I can understand why some are suggesting we stick to the standard line-up - now is not the time to experiment....... The only changes being personell changes to accomodate McKain and Durantes absences. I suspect that will also be the way Ricki chooses to line-up. Whitby boy2009-01-02 14:03:45

If the next four games weren't so important I'd be happy yo see Draper and Costa get some game time....however with the top four beckoning we have to be playing to win and therefore the tried and tested combination has to take preference, will be tough without Durante and McKain.

Sounds good, I am so relieved that Ricki is going for Daniel rather than Johnson. This game is absolutely vital, if we don't win there is pretty much no way we will make the top 4. A victory (especially if a few other results go our way) keeps us in the mix. Lets hope Daniel plays a blinder because frankly I think he should have been in our starting XI anyway.

And here is more confirmation http://www.stuff.co.nz/4808133a1823.html Good to see Daniel should be in there, and while i'd like to see a standard 2 strikers up front in a 4-4-2 this team looks alright.

I don't really have anything to add to what's been said. I only wanted to make 2 points.

1) Re: Costa/Drapes: Don't see what's the point in having these youngesters if they never get to play. Costa played what 3 times off the bench and Drapes never? Look at Qland, last year Zullo and Cruise, this year Oar and that other kid. And Oar is only 16. If you don't put a bit of faith in the youngsters and give them a few runs, you'll never know what they're worth.

2) It'd be nice to see the rematch of Dodd vs J. Griffiths on Sunday. I wonder if Joel will be so stupid and temperamental to try and get back at Dodd for getting him sent off last time. That would be a God send as far as I'm concerned.

I've been looking forward to that all week. I hope Karl gets right up his nose from the start and we can sit back and watch the fuse get shorter and shorter. How long will Griffiths take to explode??

Probably better coaching/managing however.

...or better quality and better developed youngsters ?

Match Info:

Tv: Sky Sport 1 7pm
Radio: 1035AM (link)
Steams: (link)

Tab:
WP: $1.80
Jets: $4.25
Draw: $3.30

Sportingbet.com.au:
WP: 1.83
Jets: 4.25
Draw: 3.30

Head to head:
All matches (played 5): Wellington Phoenix wins 2, Newcastle Jets wins 2 (1 draw).
In Wellington (played 2): Wellington Phoenix wins 1, Newcastle Jets wins 1 (0 draws).
Michael2009-01-02 23:59:17

Surely at home against the bottom team we've got to go out more positively and with more attacking intent than that?

I'm not advocating we throw caution to the wind, start Draper, Costa and Smeltz together or any other radical changes by any means, just a slightly more aggressive pursuit of three points than we've seen in recent weeks.

you're right wolfman. I think we should be as confident as we were last time. That doesn't mean that we don't defend (in fact we led 1-0 vs 10 men for most of the game last time - which could've meant a draw if they got lucky) but I think we need to hammer them all over the pitch and make them realise they are crap and are playing away from home vs the 5th team on the ladder.

Also, people we need to f**king scream on the day. The last 2 matches have been very good, keep that up. See what Daniel said?? He/They can hear us and get all psyched up about it, and rightly so.

Therefore let's scream eh!

nah, thay'd be too busy texting their support Ed!

No. You always have to play to your strengths.

Costa hasn't been anything special...could he or Draper do a better job than Hearfield or Daniel? Ricki has decided no.

Kind of tempted to agree with El Grad. Stick with our plan of shutting them down and scoring one or two, with at least one more than them being good. It is too late to think we can do a CCM and be heavily attacking and rely on outscoring our opposition in the last few minutes...

Unfortunately that's worked mostly because of McKain and Brown.

Would Brown be able to anchor the midfield on his own without McKain? or would Johnson/Plodder be a good swap for McKain? ouch. also Manny has played there, but with no other option at right back, not worth considering.

Someone was talking Mully and Lochy as a wing backs in a 5 at the back formation...

I think El Grad, with McKain out our game plan has to alter to be a winning one, if playing to shut the opposition out is going to be a successful tactic.

Daniel on the left and Ferrante on the right with Leo and Smeltz up front only works if Daniel and Ferrante win a lot of ball and do a lot of chasing. Is that going to happen?

Yellow fever kick around tomorrow guys.

Check out the kick around thread above this one and come along.

hopefully v Jets we are not going to stuggle with our options at throw ins like we have been. Its been ridiculous

beautiful sunny day this morning in wanganui hope it is the same in wellington,looking forward to the drive and the game this evening.

great day here, hopefully we'll get a few through the gates

Great weather for shirts off.
I feel a win coming on tonight.

i certainly hope so the drive home is so much better after a win, also i have lost some weight over the last month so will not offend those next to me so much when the shirts come off .gotta go now walking to my mates house then off to wellington  hopefully a good crowd in tonight see you all there.holeinone2009-01-04 09:26:21

Possible chant for the game

This is when Joel Griffis screws it up
(to the tune of leilei gaos chant)
HE'LL SHOOT
HE'LL MISS
HE CANT EVEN ASSIST
JOELGRIFFIS
JOELGRIFFIS

OR if we still wanna mock them over the pasta jar "incident"

(To the tune of "who stole the cookies from the cookie jar"

WHO PUT THEIR WEENIE IN THE PASTA JAR
JOEL GRIFFIS PUT HIS WEENIE IN THE PASTA JAR
WHO ME?

YES YOU
IT COULD BE
SO JOEL GRIFFIS PUT HIS WEENIE IN THE PASTA JAR

so theres two chants cmon the nix. big win today!!!!
(I think I spelt griffis wrong but you get the idea)smith_4562009-01-04 10:43:30

Whats this about a pasta jar?

Some numpty from Newcastle got caught with his dong in a jar of pasta sauce while parked off the side of a highway a few weeks back.

In fact only a few days before the last time Noocastle were here, so we had a bit of fun with it at the time.

 that pic hk is still classic

I knew id get to use it again

I still prefer my El**ch ones


HK_Keeper2009-01-04 12:28:25

Whats everyone predicting as the ft score?

2-1 Phoenix.. Smeltzy to grab a double..

4-0 killing by us! smeltzy,lochhead, leo bertos and...........Daniel?

3 nil to the nix
smeltz, bertos nd Daniel.
Is paston playing?

(PIC OF AHMAD)
They said he was injured.
He really started his dream career.smith_4562009-01-04 13:39:19

That ones good, ill go for that

sh*t HK, Those are classics

I really hope the Nix can pull out a win tonight. There are only two home games left and four for the season in total. We really need to get our sh*t together if we have any hope of making the top four.