Wellington Phoenix vs Ah-Deh-Laid-Eh

I'm with that side but news' formation

"Asked about his thoughts around the attacking end, Herbert said: "You've got Brown, you've got Lia, who has been excellent in the time he has been on the pitch, you've got Bertos and [Daniel], and obviously Ifill and Greenacre. I think from an attacking point of view those guys are all in my mind at the moment."

"Herbert is seeking a return to the more free-flowing, less direct brand the Phoenix showcased against Perth and at times against Brisbane, and is set to rejig things in the middle of the park, hinting that there could be call-ups for midfielders Tim Brown, Vince Lia and Daniel."

I'd like to see:

-----------Paston------------
Dura--Sigs--McKain--Lochy
--------------Lia--------------
H'field----Bertos------Rojas
-------Greenie---Ifill---------

Tonnes of pace and attacking intent with Marco as our secret weapon.Lia strictly holding the midfield while Troy, Leo and Marco have license to switch and roam.
But I think Ricki will be a bit more conservative and we'll see:

-----------Paston------------
Dura--Sigs--McKain--Lochy
---------Lia---Brown---------
Bertos-----------------Daniel
--------Greenie---Ifill--------

With Brown and Lia making sure that one always anchors while the other puts themselves about and supports the attackers.
EvertonFC2009-09-03 15:44:36

Rumour that Marco pulled up lame at training this morning.  

I don't figure this idea of Leo in the middle - he's the man with pace so why crowd him in the centre of the park.  He's not exactly your holding and distributing type.

For a dumb smuck who's never seen Rojas play - what's his game?

bummer, was looking forward to getting to see him.  touch wood he's OK

Confirmed:

http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=29086
Hard News2009-09-03 16:02:05

Marco  out, Daniel starting

Costa would have been hoping he'd take Marcos' spot on the bench i'd imagine, but no go.

No Jiang Chen in this match - disappointing but Im sure there is a reason:

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Jon McKAIN, 5. DIEGO, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL. 9. Chris GREENACRE, 10. Michael FERRANTE, 11. DANIEL, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 20. Reece CROWTHER (gk), 22. Andrew DURANTE (c).

Having seen the squad for the game, the bench is looking a little light with striking cover. Chen or Costa would be good.

No Chen - no cover for striker.  Ricki had previously said he expected to have Chen on the bench for this game.

Plenty of tradesmen/defensive midfielders Brown/Ferrante/Lia. 

I'm still assuming Brown starts and Diego gets a crack at ... 65mins and hopefully both can link with the attack well
+Hopefully some sort of rocket's gone up Diego (or manhugs and kisses, whatever it takes) and he gets to play central where he should be. 

442 looks certain with Daniel and Leo wide and hopefully Daniel and Locky getting their season one combo buzzing again

Some potential there, just need the central midfield to look a LOT better than v Sydney

GO 'NIX

+1  Ricki will be thinking Plan B = Diego+Hearfield Yawn WTF

I guess having no 2nd team causes some probs.  He's giving Lia a full start after only limited time from the bench.  Similarly Daniel.  So maybe that causes him to have the extra midfield cover, and also gives cover for Lia if he had to drop to the back four because of an injury there.

Still a bit conservative for me.
mjp22009-09-03 16:44:19

Ok then so I'm gonna say that we might see something like
   Paston
Sigmund Durante McKain Lochhead
Bertos      Lia       Ferrante  Daniel
             Ifill       Greenacre

Crowther // Brown // Hearfield // Diego

Honestly, i would actually prefer to start Diego instead of Ferrante. Give him a shot playing central. Then only one of Brown/Ferrante on Bench with Costa there too. Seems silly to have Brown on Bench though so maybe he will start instead of Ferrante

Paston
Sigmund Durante McKain Lochhead
Brown
Lia               Daniel
Bertos
Ifill   Greenacre

Sigmund at right back to get more experience there ahead of AW games. Brown starting as I think a game in Wellington will inspire him to recapture his form of old. Rest of team I think are simple.

I reckon from that lineup it'll be

               Paston

        Durante   McKain
Siggy                         Lochy
        
           Lia       Brown
Bertos                      Daniel

        Greenacre  Ifill
       

that'd be a  from me!!!
            

                 ^

Costa looked very lively off the bench in Tianjin and did well at the end of last season. It's early days for Rojas but it's Costa's third season in the squad is it not? If he is going to get his chance then when, it's been a long time coming...

so happy that daniel is starting tomorow night.. given the fact that adelaide are in bad shape il predict 3 nil nix win!!

I depressed already...another team stacked with midfilders who will hopefully deliver to the lone sriker..sounds like 08/09 all over.  We have lost a chance to go all out attack..if Chen isnt fit or up to it then why sign him..sign someone who is fit..even Daniel says he isnt 100% ffs and play 2 out and out strikers.  If Greenacre goes down we are stuffed.  Ifill may get another one but we really need to put 3 past Adelaide.

Yeah i agree.

Costa has been f**ked around with too much now and i think its time for Ricki to give him a shot this season.

He did well when he played last time so i don't see why not?

Personally i hate Ricki Herbert and think he deserves to be mutilated by hawks and Egyptian dogs.

Okay, from what we have, I'd like to see on Friday either this 4-4-2 based on what we know (no Crowther starting, Manny away, Marco injured & me unavailable .

Didn't Ricki already say that McKain would be at CB? That'll mess up both your formations.

hopefully it will be something like this

Costa is not in the squad so won't be on the bench.

ah dammit... why bloody not

disappointed to see brown back...I dont rate him

He was saying he isn't 100% match fit cos he hasn't played 90 minutes for ???? long.
He's assuming he'll play 90 mins?

I predict the 65 min sub will be for Daniel when he's rooted. Hope he does plenty of damage before then

15 man squad already named in the Daniel article on the club web site
Costa not in the squad
FERRANTE is in the squad
We love Ricki

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Jon McKAIN, 5. DIEGO, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL. 9. Chris GREENACRE, 10. Michael FERRANTE, 11. DANIEL, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 20. Reece CROWTHER (gk), 22. Andrew DURANTE (c).
mjp22009-09-03 21:11:10

I may be wrong but am pretty sure it was in a press article about two weeks ago

McKain doesn't start?

I think we've established that McKain is starting at CB

Found it - I may slightly have put words in his mouth but close enough

http://www.tribalfootball.com/wellington-coach-herbert-postpone-debut-jiang-chen-264330

The China U23 international joined his teammates for his first training session today but Herbert will put off his debut until he is 100% ready to go.

"He's had his fitness test this morning and he's joined the group for a session here. It's good to have him here," said Herbert.

"He's settled in pretty quickly. We'll be patient with him. I think he can certainly be an impact for us. We'll probably look around the next home game against Adelaide to have him part of that."