Whats gone Wrong (and other angst)
GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS
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GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS
You have to wonder just why things have gone so badly.Lets look at our start,Pre Season things looked good we were mostly happy with the way things were looking.
Then the season proper started and suddenly things turned to custard.Then for a short 3 week period we had a bit of a respite and all our hopes were raised again. Only for them to smashed in the last couple of weeks by yet more performances that have shown little heart and some players showing they dont deserve to be wearing our jersey.
I hate losing but will take it if my team shows a little ticker and puts in a decent effort,but whats been put before us in all but a handfull of games this season is rubbish.
Would love to know just why they DONT play like a TEAM. Therein lies an answer that i doubt we will hear what the real story is.We will just be feed more be patient guys it will happen.Well FK it im sick of excuses.
Then the season proper started and suddenly things turned to custard.Then for a short 3 week period we had a bit of a respite and all our hopes were raised again. Only for them to smashed in the last couple of weeks by yet more performances that have shown little heart and some players showing they dont deserve to be wearing our jersey.
I hate losing but will take it if my team shows a little ticker and puts in a decent effort,but whats been put before us in all but a handfull of games this season is rubbish.
Would love to know just why they DONT play like a TEAM. Therein lies an answer that i doubt we will hear what the real story is.We will just be feed more be patient guys it will happen.Well FK it im sick of excuses.
GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS
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Ricky
Tactics
Player recruitment
Kwasnik
Getting rid of Felipe
Tactics
Player recruitment
Kwasnik
Getting rid of Felipe
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Ricky
Tactics
Player recruitment
Kwasnik
Getting rid of Felipe
The failure to nab Porter.
Strikers Strikers Strikers. How many other teams realistically went into this season with just one striker?
CCM 4 + Caceres. Perth seem to at least have 3. Melbourne have the fantastic partnership of Allsopp and Thompson. The midfield has not scored the goals we expected of them. or created the attacks.
Plus we don't like playing in Perth.
Tactics
Player recruitment
Kwasnik
Getting rid of Felipe
The failure to nab Porter.
Strikers Strikers Strikers. How many other teams realistically went into this season with just one striker?
CCM 4 + Caceres. Perth seem to at least have 3. Melbourne have the fantastic partnership of Allsopp and Thompson. The midfield has not scored the goals we expected of them. or created the attacks.
Plus we don't like playing in Perth.
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people are usually the complicating factor. i'm sure its not as simple to answer as we like to think. but this season seems to have revealed the wrong combinations of players it seems. that leads to all the follow-on problems.
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Ricky
Tactics
Player recruitment
Kwasnik
Getting rid of Felipe
Tactics
Player recruitment
Kwasnik
Getting rid of Felipe
All (well most anyway) paths lead to the coach - leadership, recruitment, tactics (players out of position, inconsistent selections, ....).
He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)
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When Smeltz goes, can we buy Rukavytsya?
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If that was a "season defining game" our season is over. So let's start building for next year. All we realistically have to play for is seventh or eighth spot. What's gone wrong for me is right throughout the team:
Lochead - half the player he was last year. Seems disinterested
Durante - came with a big rep "best player in grand final" etc. Decent enough but no leadership or passion. Shouldn't be captain
Gao - waste of space. Word of advice mate, you are here and not Europe because you're crap. Now roll your sleeves up and get on with it. Show some passion for the shirt or walk
Bertos - getting better but doesn't seem the player he was last year. Has the look of a man who has jumped out of the frying pan into the fire
McKain - average
Brown - decent enough guy but limited talent
Coveney - a striker who can't score or last 90 minutes is a luxury we can no longer afford. Be ruthless Ricki. He's had a good career and now it's time to hang up the boots
Kwasnik - Huge disappointment.
In short, we have no leader on the pitch, no one who gets in the faces of the opposition and no one who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and make things happen. There's no point us having more strikers if we don't have a midfield that can find them.
On the plus side, we have two good goalkeepers, Sigmund looks good enough and our best player this season has been Dodds. I'm no Dodds fan, but at least he looks like he cares and gives it his all every week. He doesn't hide unlike some of his more capable colleagues.
Ricki needs to look at his coaching methods. If he can't fire them up we're screwed because no one else will want the job. Why was he praising the team after the game? We've now lost twice in quick succession to the supposedly worst team in the league. We have to accept that label now sits firmly with us. If we finish eight again we may as well knock it on the head and give the franchise up. Because if we can't do it with the set up we have here NZ will never have a credible team in the A-league.
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Tactis have got me miffed.
Why's Coveny still starting?
Why's Gao still starting?
Why were these two not taken off at halftime? Why were they still on there at 60 mins?
SLOW reactions to the situation by Ricki.
Was a bit stunned when they showed Nix dressing room at halftime and Ricki was wandering round silently, he should have been yelling at the players.
Coveny has to be dropped from the squad altogether, I cannot remember him having a single shot this season.........he's a f**king striker!
Gao as a sub at best. He is brilliant at running at the man and beating the man but what else does he offer?
We have a great squad and they are capable of much better.
Why's Coveny still starting?
Why's Gao still starting?
Why were these two not taken off at halftime? Why were they still on there at 60 mins?
SLOW reactions to the situation by Ricki.
Was a bit stunned when they showed Nix dressing room at halftime and Ricki was wandering round silently, he should have been yelling at the players.
Coveny has to be dropped from the squad altogether, I cannot remember him having a single shot this season.........he's a f**king striker!
Gao as a sub at best. He is brilliant at running at the man and beating the man but what else does he offer?
We have a great squad and they are capable of much better.
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Right, I avoided coming on here last night because I would have been writing from a place of anger and very little reason or logic would have been involved. This morning the anger still exists but it is joined by reason and logic.
I have been thinking about the best way with which to explain my disappointment and how I felt watching that �performance� last night.
I decided an open letter to the players is the best way, sure they might not read it but some of them who have some guts may come on here and see what the fans think.
To the Wellington Phoenix;
For the first time in my life this morning I am embarrassed to be a fan of a sports team that I support.
No fan enjoys losing but fair minded fans realise that some days things don�t go your way and you may simply be beaten by a better team. However when a team loses because it looks like they do not even want to be on the field that is a different story and one that is much more difficult to accept.
Your performance last night not only lacked any discernible game plan or execution it lacked, heart, skill, desire or passion.
Many people including myself have poured a lot into this team, whether it be money spent on ticketing or merchandise or simply there time and energy spent on coming to games. The way you have been repaying that support is an insult to all of us.
I will be at the next game because I am a fan and because I care about the future of the game in this country, I only hope that in the following weeks you decide that you want to represent the Phoenix and everything the club stands for. You owe the game and the fans that much.
Yours in hope
Benji
Now that is all probably a bit melodramatic but I didn�t want to just rant and swear, I wanted to say how I really felt because I was insulted and embarrassed by that performance last night.
But oh well we have the ferns to watch tomorrow night, now that is a team that shows like they are proud to wear the shirt!!!
www.kiwifromthecouch.blogspot.com
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Im afraid I fell asleep during the game at least once, thats how bad it was for me.
Rukavytsya looked awesome when I was awake, cant imagine Coveny doing what he did, thats part of the problem.
We just dont have enough direction going forward, so you just aint going to win games like that, and will lose plenty.
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Tactis have got me miffed.
Why's Coveny still starting?
Why's Gao still starting?
Why were these two not taken off at halftime? Why were they still on there at 60 mins?
SLOW reactions to the situation by Ricki.
Was a bit stunned when they showed Nix dressing room at halftime and Ricki was wandering round silently, he should have been yelling at the players.
Coveny has to be dropped from the squad altogether, I cannot remember him having a single shot this season.........he's a f**king striker!
Gao as a sub at best. He is brilliant at running at the man and beating the man but what else does he offer?
We have a great squad and they are capable of much better.
Why's Coveny still starting?
Why's Gao still starting?
Why were these two not taken off at halftime? Why were they still on there at 60 mins?
SLOW reactions to the situation by Ricki.
Was a bit stunned when they showed Nix dressing room at halftime and Ricki was wandering round silently, he should have been yelling at the players.
Coveny has to be dropped from the squad altogether, I cannot remember him having a single shot this season.........he's a f**king striker!
Gao as a sub at best. He is brilliant at running at the man and beating the man but what else does he offer?
We have a great squad and they are capable of much better.
Exactly Ricki is NOT UP TO IT 
Edit : Fixing tags - HN
Hard News2008-11-03 10:51:01Edit : Fixing tags - HN
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pity we aren't likely to hear anything from the club until they get back after the sydney game. Tony normally doesn't post on here when they are away.....whilst I don't want the usual "the boys are feeling it too" explanation I'd like some honest answers as to why when we travel to Pert (in particular) the team seem as a whole dis interested.....and then at half time they get a gentle reminder from the coach????? I know Ricki isnt the yelling kind of manager, but seriously the whole lot needed a rocket placed under them on Sunday.
Queenslander 3x a year.
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Tactis have got me miffed.
Why's Coveny still starting?
Why's Gao still starting?
Why were these two not taken off at halftime? Why were they still on there at 60 mins?
SLOW reactions to the situation by Ricki.
Was a bit stunned when they showed Nix dressing room at halftime and Ricki was wandering round silently, he should have been yelling at the players.
Coveny has to be dropped from the squad altogether, I cannot remember him having a single shot this season.........he's a f**king striker!
Gao as a sub at best. He is brilliant at running at the man and beating the man but what else does he offer?
We have a great squad and they are capable of much better.
Why's Coveny still starting?
Why's Gao still starting?
Why were these two not taken off at halftime? Why were they still on there at 60 mins?
SLOW reactions to the situation by Ricki.
Was a bit stunned when they showed Nix dressing room at halftime and Ricki was wandering round silently, he should have been yelling at the players.
Coveny has to be dropped from the squad altogether, I cannot remember him having a single shot this season.........he's a f**king striker!
Gao as a sub at best. He is brilliant at running at the man and beating the man but what else does he offer?
We have a great squad and they are capable of much better.
Exactly Ricki is NOT UP TO IT
Edit : Fixing tags - HN
Edit : Fixing tags - HN
I don't think that he's not up to it, he just needs to teach the team to have a shot, to not give the ball away so easily and he needs some help choosing starting team and making the right sub at the right time.
As well as firing the boys up, not being scared to yell at them, tell them what he really thinks.
I am lost by some of his actions but I'm not gonna start calling for his head, lets wait till end of season and consider that. I just think he needs some good advice.
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seriously I don't think he even needs to yell to fire them up and tell them what he thinks...he is the coach he should be able to do it without raising his voice
I have never like Gao, don't know what it is about him just haven't liked him from the start.....
lazy, gives up too easily
there was too much kicking and hoping for the best!
they didn't look like they cared last night...
Durante needs to make more of an impact as a captain...it's his job too to fire then up...get them going!
play to win...if you don't perform you should be on the bench....I know less than most people on here about football but ffs start playing like you wanna win!!
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I think you should demand the players donate their match fee to Movember tbh.
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send Fitz and Coxey in to do the Sydney team-talk
Founder
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BRING BACK El**ch FFS!
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
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What's gone wrong with the Podcasts btw?
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Right, I avoided coming on here last night because I would have been writing from a place of anger and very little reason or logic would have been involved. This morning the anger still exists but it is joined by reason and logic.
I have been thinking about the best way with which to explain my disappointment and how I felt watching that �performance� last night.
I decided an open letter to the players is the best way, sure they might not read it but some of them who have some guts may come on here and see what the fans think.
To the Wellington Phoenix;
For the first time in my life this morning I am embarrassed to be a fan of a sports team that I support.
No fan enjoys losing but fair minded fans realise that some days things don�t go your way and you may simply be beaten by a better team. However when a team loses because it looks like they do not even want to be on the field that is a different story and one that is much more difficult to accept.
Your performance last night not only lacked any discernible game plan or execution it lacked, heart, skill, desire or passion.
Many people including myself have poured a lot into this team, whether it be money spent on ticketing or merchandise or simply there time and energy spent on coming to games. The way you have been repaying that support is an insult to all of us.
I will be at the next game because I am a fan and because I care about the future of the game in this country, I only hope that in the following weeks you decide that you want to represent the Phoenix and everything the club stands for. You owe the game and the fans that much.
Yours in hope
Benji
Now that is all probably a bit melodramatic but I didn�t want to just rant and swear, I wanted to say how I really felt because I was insulted and embarrassed by that performance last night.
But oh well we have the ferns to watch tomorrow night, now that is a team that shows like they are proud to wear the shirt!!!
Well said, bopman. We all want to keep loving this team. But it's getting harder by the week. I wondered at the time if moving the A-League franchise away from Auckland was a mistake.
In terms of support, a big NO! Yellow Fever has been superb. In terms of performance, spot the difference? I can't. Watching last night was like watching the Knights at their most inept. It was that bad.
Bopman, you hit it on the head when you noted the team lacked heart, skill, desire and passion. But without those qualities, what's left? A team of empty shirts, not a team of professional footballers.
The Phoenix are in danger of becoming a footballing joke. Good players (Smeltz) will flee to new franchises or other established teams if a decent offer comes along. And our chances of attracting new and improved talent for next season's squad becomes an increasingly uphill struggle.
I still love this team and what it could do for football in this country. I'm trying hard to believe it's not a lost cause. But if it's not lost, it's certainly looking rudderless.
Seriously, how long will Terry keep putting his hand in his pocket? If he walks away, there goes professional football in NZ. But could anyone blame him?
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You might find that pocket you talk of only has loose change in it at present.
GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS
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For the umpteen time the simple fact is this squad is not good enough for the A-League. Time for Terry S, Ricki and Tonp P to recognise that. Only five goals (not counting penalties) and we're half way through the season - what a joke! The scary thing is that Tony P is reportedly trying to resign a whole bunch of them.
The under 17 women's football is far superior. Watched the England/Nigeria and Brazil /Korea games at the stadium. The football was absolutely magnificient. These girls, who are only 14-16 years old, are fantastic athletes and hugely skilful. They provided real end-to-end entertainment for 90 mins. Their skills, effort and entertainment value are far superior to anything I've seen the Phoenix produce this year, and I've seen all the games. The crowd atmosphere was also fantastic. And they only charged 10 bucks for both games. It's a pity they won't be back in time from Sydney on Saturday to see the quarter finals, but the Phoenix could learn a lot about skill, guts, pride and effort by watching the under 17's play.
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For the umpteen time the simple fact is this squad is not good enough for the A-League. Time for Terry S, Ricki and Tonp P to recognise that. Only five goals (not counting penalties) and we're half way through the season - what a joke! The scary thing is that Tony P is reportedly trying to resign a whole bunch of them.
The under 17 women's football is far superior. Watched the England/Nigeria and Brazil /Korea games at the stadium. The football was absolutely magnificient. These girls, who are only 14-16 years old, are fantastic athletes and hugely skilful. They provided real end-to-end entertainment for 90 mins. Their skills, effort and entertainment value are far superior to anything I've seen the Phoenix produce this year, and I've seen all the games. The crowd atmosphere was also fantastic. And they only charged 10 bucks for both games. It's a pity they won't be back in time from Sydney on Saturday to see the quarter finals, but the Phoenix could learn a lot about skill, guts, pride and effort by watching the under 17's play.
So you're suggesting we sign under 17 girls from other countries to replace the current team?
I reckon we would get some stick from other teams fans if we did that.
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We'd probably get some respect. These girls have got plenty more spine than the Phoenix.
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Up until the point they get tackled...
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Up until the point they get tackled...
Your kidding right?
One thing iveloved about the U17 women...is that they go so hard into tackles,and when they go down,they mostly just jump straight back up. I sit there thinking "wow,if i were watching a mens game,we'd still be waiting for them to finish rolling around trying to get the ref to give out a card"
As for the U17 women being better than the phoenix....rubbish. Sure,they have surpirsed and are very very skillful. But you forget the factor of...quality of opposition. The U17 women would get beaten in the A league week in week out,by more than the phoenix are
Allegedly
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Even if the level of competition can't accurately be measured - the heart, belief, fight and general team spirit and bond nearly every team shows puts the rabble we support in to perspective.
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What's gone wrong with the Podcasts btw?
Marius ? Cnut ? Care to answer ?
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Up until the point they get tackled...
�
Your kidding right?
Not really. They're not getting tackled by big thugs like Muscat and Dodd.
I like the not pissing around on the ground crying (unless they get injured, which seems to happen a bit), but the games don't seem to be (Nigeria England excluded) as physical as the A-League is.
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Well thats to be expected isnt it? Theyre all much smaller physically,but it evens out since all of them are girls under 17....balances itself out. The tackles arent as hard,but their thresholds arent as high either,since theyre smaller.
Theyre playing at the level theyre at. The girls not rolling round like the men tend to do,is great,and one of the noticeable positive things about the tournament
Allegedly
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Ricki needs to look at his coaching methods. If he can't fire them up we're screwed because no one else will want the job. Why was he praising the team after the game? We've now lost twice in quick succession to the supposedly worst team in the league. We have to accept that label now sits firmly with us. If we finish eight again we may as well knock it on the head and give the franchise up. Because if we can't do it with the set up we have here NZ will never have a credible team in the A-league.
Talking of where we'll end up this year, can anyone help out here with Ricki's exact words from the end of last season?
It was something along the lines of: "If we don't finish in the top 4 next season, my job will be on the line".
Top 4 this season is now a pipedream. Won't happen. So where does that leave Ricki? Will he even last the rest of this season?
Is that why Brian Turner has been brought in as Ricki's 'adviser'? So Turner's ready to step in and take over - probably as interim coach - the moment Ricki quits/ is pushed?
scribbler2008-11-03 14:50:45
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Just conjecture, but to me Turner is part of the package with Ricki. If one goes I would expect them both to go.
Not that I am saying anyone could be or is going.
Not that I am saying anyone could be or is going.
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