WPM R1 @ Perth Glory | Sat 18th Oct | 11:45pm | SS2

NZPhoenixFan

Noah4thenix

NZPhoenixFan

They're shark. We're gonna start the season with a win!

Why have you said this? We're gonna lose now and it'll be all your fault

Hehe - idk man. They play a high press and AG is the type of dude who we've seen, is the drop deep and defend type of coach. Dk how they will marry a high press and deep block together. But if their mids are slow in transition to defense phases, they'll open up heaps of space in the mid, we can really kill them. Their preseason results against A league teams have been woeful. Perth just sucks.

 They have Pennington, O'Neill, Risdon, Taggart, added Wooton, Kucharski, Kaltak and Wales.  They are all decent players and I expect a tough game for us.

Such a bitch this is on at 11.45 pm.

Does anyone know if any pubs/bars in Wellington will be showing the game? Four Kings are closed for an event...

collins.wa

Does anyone know if any pubs/bars in Wellington will be showing the game? Four Kings are closed for an event...

Try Thunder Road in Blair Street would imagine it will be on in there Matty is a YF original.
Defiantly will be on here just confirmed it.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/10/17/squads-named-for-distance-derby-between-phoenix-and-perth-glory/

All Whites defenders Tim Payne and Lukas Kelly-Heald have travelled direct from Norway to Western Australia to join their Wellington Phoenix team ahead of Saturday’s men’s A-League season opener.

The pair arrived on Thursday to join their squad for the game against Perth Glory, and have been named in the squad for the fixture.

Head coach Giancarlo Italiano says Payne’s fitness will be assessed by the team’s staff but should be ready to start.

Really hard to call this one. Perth have recruited well but they have not had a great preseason. They do have guys like Taggert who can win you a game.
As for us.....who knows. We havent seen the A team in action. Looks like we are playing a high line with an agressive press. Hard to do for 90 mins. I like the more mature look of the squad. Lots of guys with lots of games.
A result would be great but their style of play will be important. It will set the tone for the whole season  Lets go you Nix!!!!!!

Let’s play some fudgeing football! COYN!!

It's a Saturday.  They should play at 1PM local time.

austin111

Really hard to call this one. Perth have recruited well but they have not had a great preseason. They do have guys like Taggert who can win you a game.
As for us.....who knows. We havent seen the A team in action. Looks like we are playing a high line with an agressive press. Hard to do for 90 mins. I like the more mature look of the squad. Lots of guys with lots of games.
A result would be great but their style of play will be important. It will set the tone for the whole season  Lets go you Nix!!!!!!

The point I made elsewhere here is that all of their recruits are from other A-League clubs, notably Western United (Kucharski only nominally from WU).  At least some of their new players are already proven ALM goal-scorers, Taggart aside. This is not exactly the case of our own current squad, at least on paper.
So there is a strong chance that the Glory team will be able to hit the ground running at the ALM level. What our own "settle-down" period will be this season we should gauge already after this game.

Predicted lineups for both teams

Not sure who Perth are gonna play at LB with both their options out with injury. We probably really should be beating that team. Without Amos, Lawrence and Sutton they are without a lot of their creativity.

Fire up!

We're finally back!

🔥🔥COYN🔥🔥

AucklandPhoenix

Such a bitch this is on at 11.45 pm.

Certainly past my bedtime. I'll catch the highlights in the morning 

wilbaker

Predicted lineups for both teams

Screenshot 2025-10-18 at 10.38.48 AM.png 400.75 KB

Screenshot 2025-10-18 at 10.38.59 AM.png 406.92 KB

Not sure who Perth are gonna play at LB with both their options out with injury. We probably really should be beating that team. Without Amos, Lawrence and Sutton they are without a lot of their creativity.

reading news on Sutton's injury they predicted Wales to be an option at lwb - so possibly playing a back 3 as well.

Very concerned seeing Nagasawa that high in the formation.

Adds little in my view.

His Japanese colleague brings more.

A lot riding on Eze and James this season.

 If they turn out to be great signings the team will do ok.

 If middling, it could be a horrendous season.

In all the preseason games there’s been no suggestion that Kazuki will be anywhere but right next to Rufer. We have so many other attacking players I can’t see him being pushed forward. Chief usually practices something and hones it. If he’s springing major surprises that means he’s at a loss imo. Despite last season I can’t see Nagasawa playing in a ten at this stage. 

chiefy seemed to be under the impression that perth were going to be doing a back 5 this season anyway, in the pre match press conference

Bullion

wilbaker

Predicted lineups for both teams

Screenshot 2025-10-18 at 10.38.48 AM.png 400.75 KB

Screenshot 2025-10-18 at 10.38.59 AM.png 406.92 KB

Not sure who Perth are gonna play at LB with both their options out with injury. We probably really should be beating that team. Without Amos, Lawrence and Sutton they are without a lot of their creativity.

reading news on Sutton's injury they predicted Wales to be an option at lwb - so possibly playing a back 3 as well.

AucklandPhoenix

Very concerned seeing Nagasawa that high in the formation.

Adds little in my view.

His Japanese colleague brings more.

I had this conversation mostly with myself about Ishige playing deeper after that Newcastle game and that gorgeous goal involving Ishige, Payne, Kosta and finished by Kazu iirc…

But yeh. It won’t happen. Nagasawa will patrol the midfield and Ishige will play further forward. Don’t worry! 

While Rufer was away, Nagasawa wore the armband during the Hahn Cup games.
 I wonder if Chiefy gave him some sort of a pep talk in the offseason.

imanixsupporter

chiefy seemed to be under the impression that perth were going to be doing a back 5 this season anyway, in the pre match press conference

Bullion

wilbaker

Predicted lineups for both teams

Screenshot 2025-10-18 at 10.38.48 AM.png 400.75 KB

Screenshot 2025-10-18 at 10.38.59 AM.png 406.92 KB

Not sure who Perth are gonna play at LB with both their options out with injury. We probably really should be beating that team. Without Amos, Lawrence and Sutton they are without a lot of their creativity.

reading news on Sutton's injury they predicted Wales to be an option at lwb - so possibly playing a back 3 as well.

a9g60k.jpg 87.66 KB

imanixsupporter

chiefy seemed to be under the impression that perth were going to be doing a back 5 this season anyway, in the pre match press conference

Bullion

wilbaker

Predicted lineups for both teams

Screenshot 2025-10-18 at 10.38.48 AM.png 400.75 KB

Screenshot 2025-10-18 at 10.38.59 AM.png 406.92 KB

Not sure who Perth are gonna play at LB with both their options out with injury. We probably really should be beating that team. Without Amos, Lawrence and Sutton they are without a lot of their creativity.

reading news on Sutton's injury they predicted Wales to be an option at lwb - so possibly playing a back 3 as well.

 Yeah, both Glory and us are gonna be playing 3-4-3 this season.

AucklandPhoenix

Very concerned seeing Nagasawa that high in the formation.

Adds little in my view.

His Japanese colleague brings more.

A lot riding on Eze and James this season.

 If they turn out to be great signings the team will do ok.

 If middling, it could be a horrendous season.

The only time Nagasawa has looked good has been when he has been pushed forward into a #10 role.

Have a look on Chiefy's interview on the upcoming  season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_lKy1j0lho.
 Any comments?

Don't think Phillip Rollo is on the Christmas card list! 

Gdog

Have a look on Chiefy's interview on the upcoming  season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_lKy1j0lho.
 Any comments?

Not a real goal on the ladder, finish as high as possible at the end of the season, but also winning a trophy, as fans deserve one. Play attractive football.

Right, plan of attack:

Either way, big Saturday night coming up!! 
COYN!!

RR

imanixsupporter

chiefy seemed to be under the impression that perth were going to be doing a back 5 this season anyway, in the pre match press conference

Bullion

wilbaker

Predicted lineups for both teams

Screenshot 2025-10-18 at 10.38.48 AM.png 400.75 KB

Screenshot 2025-10-18 at 10.38.59 AM.png 406.92 KB

Not sure who Perth are gonna play at LB with both their options out with injury. We probably really should be beating that team. Without Amos, Lawrence and Sutton they are without a lot of their creativity.

reading news on Sutton's injury they predicted Wales to be an option at lwb - so possibly playing a back 3 as well.

 Yeah, both Glory and us are gonna be playing 3-4-3 this season.

I thought they might be playing 4-4-2 since they played that against us and AC Milan but maybe they've changed formations since then.

The season is almost upon us.

The first XI of the season. #COYN pic.twitter.com/zvEDXR6e75

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) October 18, 2025

Hughes not in the squad.

Screenshot 2025-10-18 at 10.54.32 PM.png 142.88 KB

Here's how we'll lineup then, no room in the squad for Cassidy & Hughes, who is presumably injured. Gone for Conchie higher based on the information from the friendly against the Mariners, although it could be a three in midfield. 

Glad to see Loke may be in Chiefy's plans this season. Looking forward to watching his development.

Touch and go whether il be able to keep my eyes open for kick off but fire up, lads, all the same!

Chiefy said it was going to be a 3-4-3, so not a midfield 3.

Will be interesting to see where Piper comes on if/when he does, as well as which of Nagasawa and Roa Conchie is played further forward. 

When Hughes and Mileusnic come back we are going to have a really decent bench. Question is, is our starting side any good? 

Edit: Forgot About (re)Tre

Might be a big early season call here, but I feel it needs to be a big season ahead for Conchie. Contract up at seasons end, he needs to be showing more given this will be his third year in the first team environment.

So much promise shown at the U20 World Cup back in 2023, and has been solid enough in the times he's taken the pitch for us. But if he's going to be in that midfield/advanced role I'm going to need to see some more output if I'm being honest.

Fire up! 🔥 

Congrats to those staying up in NZ. Hopefully get a sneaky win in before the league knows what we’re about and then never take a backward step…

What an ugly away strip

COYN Make the match sticks in the eyes worth it.

Skygo not working as I am in Aussie... any youtube streams out there?

Cameron Cook injured for Perth in the warm-up. Good thing they got Sutton else they'd be blooding a 19 year old keeper right now!

Still the lunatics running the asylum haven’t learnt to list the team in any semblance of team position.

On another topic is it just me or is the new strip quite feminine?

YoungHeartHM

The season is almost upon us.

The first XI of the season. #COYN pic.twitter.com/zvEDXR6e75

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) October 18, 2025

Hughes not in the squad.

AucklandPhoenix

Still the lunatics running the asylum haven’t learnt to list the team in any semblance of team position.

On another topic is it just me or is the new strip quite feminine?

YoungHeartHM

The season is almost upon us.

The first XI of the season. #COYN pic.twitter.com/zvEDXR6e75

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) October 18, 2025

Hughes not in the squad.

 The graphic they just showed was just as wonky haha

Annoying so far. Geoblocked on YouTube and the app in Japan isn’t playing it as of yet. 

Away strip looks class, green accents with that hue of cream are always a good choice.