vs. Roar - Weds 3rd November

We were playing with 4 at the back most of the game until we went 3-1 down. The 3 at the back _was_ the Plan B - obviously didn't work.

Think the issue isn't tactics but our players are being left behind this year. We're too slow, too laboured. Elliott wont help that.

Good news:  Brown scored a beauty.  Big Mac wasn't entirely useless.  Daniel has a gorgeous mo.

Bad news: Nichols, a man pushing for a spot in the Hyundai A-League worst XI, scored against us.  The crowd sucked.  The team were very average.  North was irritating to watch.  We haven't played truly well all season.  We lost our record.  We have Perth away next match - a team who suck but it's away and the thought of seeing Sekulovski and Burns happy after they beat us is making me feel ill.  No imagination.  Stupid Greenacre running after a ball and having offside called when he could have stayed still and left Bertos to chase.  Poor marking.

Lochy with his groin strain (or whatever the injury is) was sounder than that tonight
Personally cant wait to see him back

Tonight was just typical NZ football, Rickis NZ tactics just arent any good anymore. Every NZ kid who plays football in NZ is told and encouraged to just pass the ball, and that footballs a passing game and if you can pass the ball you will be a good player.

NZ has zero players with flair, and zero coaches who encourage flair. As much of a team sport football is, its always players with individual brilliance who thrive. NZ has none, the AWs have none, the Phoenix have none.

We need players who can just run full steam ahead and take players on and beat them, or someone who can back them selves to hit a ball from wherever and gain decent contact and direction 9 times out of 10. Nobody can do this. Until we start producing Cahill type players we're f**ked and footballs going nowhere over here.

Absolutely hopeless.If they can't make the effort to come back in the last 20 minutes I think I might not make the effort of watching them in the weekend.

you Elliott fans have to confess that he was utter sh*t tonight.

Was he even playing ?

I think he is average anyway but coming in from nowhere and starting the game was an absolute joke.

I gave him a chance..........

Tonight was just typical NZ football, Rickis NZ tactics just arent any good anymore. Every NZ kid who plays football in NZ is told and encouraged to just pass the ball, and that footballs a passing game and if you can pass the ball you will be a good player.

NZ has zero players with flair, and zero coaches who encourage flair. As much of a team sport football is, its always players with individual brilliance who thrive. NZ has none, the AWs have none, the Phoenix have none.

We need players who can just run full steam ahead and take players on and beat them, or someone who can back them selves to hit a ball from wherever and gain decent contact and direction 9 times out of 10. Nobody can do this. Until we start producing Cahill type players we're f**ked and footballs going nowhere over here.

Every NZ kid who plays football in NZ is told and encouraged to just pass the ball, and that footballs a passing game and if you can pass the ball you will be a good player.

watch the replay.

the amount of ball he passed to the opposition was mind boggling to say the least.

you Elliott fans have to confess that he was utter sh*t tonight.

Was he even playing ?

I think he is average anyway but coming in from nowhere and starting the game was an absolute joke.

I gave him a chance..........

fair weather fan?

no I didn't watch the rest on telly.

ok did he lift his game in the final 15 ?

don't think so.

There is a big difference between them losing and losing WHILE NOT TRYING WHILE THEY ARE BEHIND.

Absolutely hopeless attitudes.

do you want me to watch the replay then come back ???

Elliott in the midfield simply confirmed that Brown and Lia are cart horses who cannot play any form of passing game.

Schoolboy defending and not just North, Muscat was just as bad as was Durante. How hard is it to mark up and track runners. Paston doesn't escape, does he simply watch the rabble unfolding before him and his distribution was woeful. Don't underestimate what a difference Reddy made at the back as well as McKain.

Ifill and Bertos in combination is not working with neither of them being able to bring others into play, they either do it themselves or give it away. They do not track back and what I wouldn't give to have Caceres on the bench to give these two a wake up call.

Macalister totally ineffective substitution, suppose should not be surprised as probably reasonably predictable that he would not make a difference. Would have liked to see Lia kept on to sit in front of back four with Eliott pushed up and Ward used further forward, would have meant pulling Brown but other than the goal he was pretty anonomous.

Totally outclassed at home, hard to take and RH needs to pull finger.

Rant over.     

Tonight was just typical NZ football, Rickis NZ tactics just arent any good anymore. Every NZ kid who plays football in NZ is told and encouraged to just pass the ball, and that footballs a passing game and if you can pass the ball you will be a good player.

NZ has zero players with flair, and zero coaches who encourage flair. As much of a team sport football is, its always players with individual brilliance who thrive. NZ has none, the AWs have none, the Phoenix have none.

We need players who can just run full steam ahead and take players on and beat them, or someone who can back them selves to hit a ball from wherever and gain decent contact and direction 9 times out of 10. Nobody can do this. Until we start producing Cahill type players we're f**ked and footballs going nowhere over here.

Cahill is really good in the air, predator in the box and makes a nuisance of himself without the ball. Is that "flair"?

A decrepit Dadi could do a better job than Macallister