WPM Finals W1 vs Western United | Sat 14th May | 9:45pm | SS7

Win this and we face City Home & Away in the next round of the Finals.

After his surgery last week, Alessandro Diamanti confirms that he will not play finals and his season is over.

Will commence rehab in coming weeks and also return home to Italy for the first time in three years.

— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) May 11, 2022

Diamanti & Lustica are out, maybe even Risdon? Injury cloud over Hyphen.

Hyphen would be a big loss. He joins the different parts together. 

harrymc55

Hyphen would be a big loss. He joins the different parts together. 

Bravo sir 

Anyone know anywhere in Auckland that'll be showing the game? 

Looks like Joshie is back into it.

It looks like we will almost back to full strength, no reason we can't win this. Fire up!

Bringing this over from the Melbourne City game thread.  And looks like that question mark on Sotirio might be gone.  I'd start Hooper, because this side is good enough to do damage and Hooper's ability to hold up, help the mids and to control possession better, then to finish half chances, is what I'd want to establish a lead.  Then Sotirio to come on and punish an opposition that has to push forward to catch up, in usual fashion.  Gives up a bit on the press early with Hooper though. 

United won't be a walk-over, but I have to say, I'm buzzing at the team we should be able to put on the field for this game.

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For the elimination final, back to starting the 4222, I presume. 

Tasty.  Serious additions either rested and back, or have got some time back into their legs last game.  
We've got this. Right? Win this for the home and away semi. COYN.

                           Sail
   Payne   Wooten Surman   Sutton
                    Pennington 
                         Lewis
        Sandoval                Piscopo
                        Ball
                            Hooper

Subs:  Paulson Sotirio/van Hattum? Old Waine Bozinovski

mjp2

Bringing this over from the Melbourne City game thread.  And looks like that question mark on Sotirio might be gone.  I'd start Hooper, because this side is good enough to do damage and Hooper's ability to hold up, help the mids and to control possession better, then to finish half chances, is what I'd want to establish a lead.  Then Sotirio to come on and punish an opposition that has to push forward to catch up, in usual fashion.  Gives up a bit on the press early with Hooper though. 

United won't be a walk-over, but I have to say, I'm buzzing at the team we should be able to put on the field for this game.

----

For the elimination final, back to starting the 4222, I presume. 

Tasty.  Serious additions either rested and back, or have got some time back into their legs last game.  
We've got this. Right? Win this for the home and away semi. COYN.

                           Sail
   Payne   Wooten Surman   Sutton
                    Pennington 
                         Lewis
        Sandoval                Piscopo
                        Ball
                            Hooper

Subs:  Paulson Sotirio/van Hattum? Old Waine Bozinovski

 I think Talay will start either Sotirio or Waine at ST most likely for Hooper as last time we played we caught them on the counter multiple times so will need someone that get inbehind.

Yep, definitely an arguable alternative approach.  

COYN.

                        Sail
   Payne   Wooten Surman   Sutton
                      Lewis
                    Sandoval
        Ball                            Piscopo
                        
                   Waine   Hooper

Can't see it happening, but I would love to see a midfield of the above. I think Lewis can do a job defensively, and believe we could cut teams up with the above talent.

Am I the only one who'd drop Sandoval for Old...? Sandoval has proved time and time again that his passing range is limited and lacks the defensive work that Old offers on top of other things. Old allows a quick transition and doesn't lose the balls in dumb areas like Sandoval does often.

I don’t care how as long as we win!

Hooper and Wayne had some success as a strike pair. On the other hand not enough to have the (premiership winning) opposition sweating a lot.

Sotirio is our form striker this year, but Hooper is one of our most technical and experienced players. Both are fairly tough.
Waine hasn’t recaptured his irresistible form of his breakthrough run of goals, but has been chipping away steadily. 

Happy for any of our players to make it happen on Saturday. We’ve got the players for a good run tbh and you feel we’re owed after the last couple of years. 

Test time for Uffie and the boys! Come on you Phoenix!

Old, Sandoval and Sotirio will be interesting calls. It was a commanding volley for Old’s chalked off goal. Sandoval has been instrumental in many of our key moments though. I wonder if Uffie is brave enough to think like MetalLeg start both of them. It wouldn’t be the team from our best run, but it would perhaps be our current form team.

Piscopo has to start, as does Ball. Sotirio has been our best this season, but is coming back from injury. It’ll be a magic trick. Again, don’t care how it’s done as long as it works! 

Gotta be smart and plan for impact off the bench as alot of our players are probably only good for 60 or 70 minutes in Lewis Ball Hooper Sotirio. And possibly going into extra time if required.. So I think Ball Hooper Sandaval and Piscopo all have to start. Sotirio, Waine and Old then give us options off the bench that can potentially go deep into extra time if required. 
DM is still an issue. What happens when Lewis has to come off. Do we then revert to a back 3 again? If so that's when we will need some pace up front.

I wouldn't be shocked if Uffie puts us back to the 4-2-2-2 formation for this, with Lewis coming straight in to partner Pennington. 

As for Old vs Sandoval, Old has been getting better each week but he still doesn't have an end product. In between giving the ball away a ton of times, Sandoval has shown he can score & creates goals.

RR

I wouldn't be shocked if Uffie puts us back to the 4-2-2-2 formation for this, with Lewis coming straight in to partner Pennington. 

As for Old vs Sandoval, Old has been getting better each week but he still doesn't have an end product. In between giving the ball away a ton of times, Sandoval has shown he can score & creates goals.

Very much in this camp. Old is undoubtedly getting better but he still has much to learn. Sandoval has been counted on and by and large delivered. Do I get frustrated at times when he loses the ball? Yes, but that happens to plenty of others. 

Think hooper should start and sotirio off the bench 

Sandoval missed a third of the season and is equal top goal scorer and has the most assists.

nzmatt

Am I the only one who'd drop Sandoval for Old...? Sandoval has proved time and time again that his passing range is limited and lacks the defensive work that Old offers on top of other things. Old allows a quick transition and doesn't lose the balls in dumb areas like Sandoval does often.

yep!
Old is a great young prospect but Sandoval is what we need at the start of any game, despite the odd lost ball.

Gael is an x-factor player when he’s in the right position and playing freely. Yeah he’s not as good as Dávila and he loses possession far more than he should but it’d be foolish to leave out one of our only players who can start quick, accurate transitions when we’re playing a team susceptible to fast counter attacks. I reckon Old could have a higher ceiling and end up in Europe one day but Sandoval is 100% the better, more capable player right now.

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Let's not concede early and then have to chase the game. Then again, let's not get an early lead, sit back, and have them come at us.

Can I wave my magic wand? We score early, they reply early. First-Half 1-all. Then, we go back in front at about the 50th minute, then make it three in the 73rd.

Obviously, we then hold them out, after a few heart flutters that make finals footy worth it in the end.

lineup (21).png 141.2 KB

Think we'll lineup like this, finally got some depth on the bench. If we're chasing the game I reckon we'd see Hooper and Sotirio come on around 60 mins for the front two.

wilbaker

lineup (21).png 141.2 KB

Think we'll lineup like this, finally got some depth on the bench. If we're chasing the game I reckon we'd see Hooper and Sotirio come on around 60 mins for the front two.

I think your idea of playing 4 strikers is brilliant. Let's hope the referee doesn't notice.
And they'll have a hell of a job getting past the two goalkeepers!

RR

Win this and we face City Home & Away in the next round of the Finals.

After his surgery last week, Alessandro Diamanti confirms that he will not play finals and his season is over.

Will commence rehab in coming weeks and also return home to Italy for the first time in three years.

— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) May 11, 2022

Diamanti & Lustica are out, maybe even Risdon? Injury cloud over Hyphen.

Is Topor-Stanley out too? went off early last game

harrymc55

wilbaker

lineup (21).png 141.2 KB

Think we'll lineup like this, finally got some depth on the bench. If we're chasing the game I reckon we'd see Hooper and Sotirio come on around 60 mins for the front two.

I think your idea of playing 4 strikers is brilliant. Let's hope the referee doesn't notice.
And they'll have a hell of a job getting past the two goalkeepers!

The faded text is for the players on the bench... but this may be sarcasm

wilbaker

RR

Win this and we face City Home & Away in the next round of the Finals.

After his surgery last week, Alessandro Diamanti confirms that he will not play finals and his season is over.

Will commence rehab in coming weeks and also return home to Italy for the first time in three years.

— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) May 11, 2022

Diamanti & Lustica are out, maybe even Risdon? Injury cloud over Hyphen.

Is Topor-Stanley out too? went off early last game

Hyphen = Topor-Stanley. Haven't seen any media speculation about his fitness yet

Asked Joey Lynch, Hyphen is out of the finals but Risdon is actually fit to play tomorrow.

Starting to get rather excited! 

harrymc55

wilbaker

lineup (21).png 141.2 KB

Think we'll lineup like this, finally got some depth on the bench. If we're chasing the game I reckon we'd see Hooper and Sotirio come on around 60 mins for the front two.

I think your idea of playing 4 strikers is brilliant. Let's hope the referee doesn't notice.
And they'll have a hell of a job getting past the two goalkeepers!

2 goal keepers would be dangerous unless positioned correctly.  Could see them both go for te ball, both stop so they don't hit each other, and the ball go straight through the middle.

You would need on at the front of the box who know exactly where he is or isnt allowed to be. 

Alex King with the whistle for this

If the Nix play like they did in the second half against City, they'll wipe United. Talk about a game of two halves. Reverting to a 4 man defence and two up front worked a treat. Especially with having Clayton Lewis on. He took over that midfield  and made it so much better for everyone. Hat's off to him.

My fire is up!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/128613920/wellington-phoenix-a-win-away-from-a-home-playoff-at-the-end-of-a-challenging-season

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/300587894/history-on-wellington-phoenixs-side-heading-into-aleague-men-elimination-final

Fire up farken! Finals football is back baby. 3rd time in the last 4 seasons, but so much longer sincr we've gotten past the first round and there's not been many better opportunities than tonight. Fudge Western, up the nix

Jazzy Jeff

Fire up farken! Finals football is back baby. 3rd time in the last 4 seasons, but so much longer sincr we've gotten past the first round and there's not been many better opportunities than tonight. Fudge Western, up the nix

10 years since we won a finals match, Paul Ifill scored the winner. Time for the boys to make some history and cement Uffie as the greatest Phoenix manager of all time

You have to think looking at the ins and outs of the two squads that we're a red hot chance here
Fire up farken