vs Sydney FC, 6th Oct 7.30pm

Quite possibly. 

 Tournament times suit the game perfectly so I should be there as long as my coach doesn't object too much. Whats the best way to get to the Hutt Valley (St Patricks College, Silverstream) after the game? If I caught the train I wouldn't get back to where I was staying until 11pm. Is there a better way?

Potentially Biggest 'who are ya'? for del piero, Since smeltz and Rojas had their returns. Although Emertons corner infront of the zone in last years home final is up there aswell. 

Not so much 'who are ya?' than 'What a waste of money'.

"Romanes eunt domus"

I can't wait to see Muscat vs Del Piero.

Keep forgetting to put bet on for ADP yellow and red cards! 

Me too, I just put $1 on him to get a yellow (paying $7), and $1 on him to get a red (paying $50). Will be amazing if those bets pay off, and even more so because he will miss his first home game against Heskey and the Jets!

 Yep. If Manny does his usual "Welcome the to the CakeTin" shtick and ADP goes down, the Sydney Stock Exchange will plummet.

 Dont know if anyones aware but the games going to be shown live in Italy

 then show them how it is done in Wellington!!!!!!!!

A much more likely scenario is Muscat getting a red card from an over-zealous A-League ref trying to "protect" the League's new poster boy.

don't jinx it

Apparently Dome texted Radio Sport this morning to say PAX is at 14,500.

Yeah, heard AG say it to Stella Artois this morning.

I have two FZ kids tickets to the game on Saturday if anyone wants them. Text me on 0272436990.

Train is definitely your best option (imo) but other options are the Valley Flyer  Bus or hitching. Also this .

GARETH MORGAN STYLE!!!

Heeeey sexy bank man!

Thats even better!

Mojo Coffee are giving away 8 double passes to the game http://ht.ly/e8MqB

Any clue if this is one of the selected games with free buses?

Yeah im not sure how they are planning to announce which games get free buses?

I'd imagine they'll wait for one of the mid-season games when they're trying to boost the numbers a bit. (Not that they're not trying to boost the numbers for this one, but hopefully you know what I mean...).

Just used the free ticket offer for a mate....PAX 8140

14,500 tickets sold as of yesterday evening + game live on Italian, NZ & Aussie TV + "best Phoenix side since I joined" according to Ifill with new attacking firepower - geez, it hurts me to say his as a Cantabrian, but right now -  come on, get it out....

I WISH I WAS LIVING IN WELLINGTON RIGHT NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good exposure for any Nix players hoping for a contract in Italy too:

"Del Piero's league debut against the Phoenix in Wellington on Saturday will even be shown live on Italian television

"Everybody in Italy will watch Sydney FC now," the former Juventus striker and World Cup winner said. "I'm excited about that and I'm not here to take my time, I play to win."

Del Piero declared himself fit and ready for the season opener at Westpac Stadium although he was unsure how many minutes he would play. "We have to see what happens with the flight to Wellington but I'm OK, I feel good and this is the most important thing." "

Actually it's been announced all of Sydney's games will be shown on  a major Italian sports channel  + the finals (even if Sydney don't qualify).

Every Italian in Sydney seemed to turn out at the airport the other day to greet ADP, but strangely some seemed to be Tony Pignata groupies and called out his name...love the big African security guard in shades accompanying ADP who looks like Samuel L Jackson...ADP's wife and kids were brave to run that gauntlet & handle it as unfazed as you would meeting some rellies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3bhkJqUqOs

ADP played 70 mins in a match v Sydney's youth side last Wednesday and apparently looked sharp:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/alessandro-del-piero-hits-ground-running-for-sydneyfc/story-fn63e0vj-1226482139011

It didn't take Del Piero 10 minutes to provide the final pass for Terry Antonis's opening goal against the Sky Blues Youth side played behind closed doors at Allianz Stadium after a scheduled trial with Central Coast was called off.

Del Piero also laid on the final pass for a Mitch Mallia goal in what finished a lopsided 5-0 scoreline.

Kruno Lovrek, another of Sydney's off-season overseas buys, also got on the scoresheet with coach Ian Crook ordering the shutters to come down on the rest of the game.

Crook's plan was to give Del Piero 70 minutes of match play.

Of what Del Piero showed in the first 20 minutes of the trial, which the media were permitted to watch before being asked to leave, the Italian is not here for a holiday.

It didn't take Del Piero long before he found himself in the more familiar role of central striker.

"The idea was to give Alessandro as much match time as possible," Crook said.

"But nothing can replace the pressure and pace he can expect from the first game of a new season.

"It was good for Alessandro, Kruno and Emmo (Emerton) to get 70 minutes under their belts.

I don't think 14,500 have been sold, I think that was what Domey's prediction for the crowd size was going to be. Which means we should be expecting 10k at most.

Hey News, anymore word on the free BBQ? although you already had me at $5 pints.

NZ's a notoriously late in getting things organised, like purchasing tickets.

The fact that there has already been 8000 tickets sold is a great sign of a good first up crowd. I also imagine a little extra media coverage over the next couple days will help push up numbers.

Hoping to see 15000+ and to find a good stream.

With good weather predicted hopefully the walk up crowd will be huge... have any of the Italian channels tried to interview any of the nix players in preperation for the game?

Are you asking on behalf of Tracey? I heard she loves a sausage...

Watching her devour that sausage in Palmy was a sight to behold.

Battered hot dog in one bite I heard.

Good pre-sales but weather forecast now patchy (although they've been wrong most of the week).

I would be surprised if we get 12k if Saturday dawns bad.