WPM R1 vs Adelaide | Sun 9th Oct | 3:00pm | SS7

InsulinMachine

valeo

YoungHe.\rt

KimT88

What was the crowd figure? 

Happy with the draw, we're the happier of the 2 sides given the red card early in the first half. At that point it looked like game over. With Lewis and Rufer coming back we'll only get better

8,325.

 Jeez that is not good for a game that should've been hyped up as the return. Makes no sense?

Meh, was hoping for at least 12k

 School holidays, wellington tends to empty out at those times. I think it was a good amount and compared well to other games. Specially when you factor in the lack of traveling fans

valeo

YoungHe.\rt

KimT88

What was the crowd figure? 

Happy with the draw, we're the happier of the 2 sides given the red card early in the first half. At that point it looked like game over. With Lewis and Rufer coming back we'll only get better

8,325.

 Jeez that is not good for a game that should've been hyped up as the return. Makes no sense?

The return goodwill was probably used with the welly and Eden Park games last year.

After a couple seasons there where we got as low as 5k 8 feels like a good start.  If the team performs hopefully it goes higher.

School holidays, Bathurst, women's rwc probably all contributed to the crowd size. 

My thought on the players:
Kraev and Zawada look like good additions to the squad. If Zawada got hold of that strike after taking down the long ball that would've been a great debut goal.

I thought Kosta was good. He was positionally versatile, worked hard and slotted into the system well. Seemed to show leadership on the field as well.

Sasse 🤔🤷‍♂️🤔 not sure. Some good close control and dribbling. Unsure if he can pass. Looks to play differently to the rest of the team. Unsure if opposition teams will figure him out quickly or if he will become a game changer.

Ugarkovich had a slow start and had terrible set pieces, but got going in the second half showing good touches. Hopefully he can form a good partnership with Lewis.

Good to have a dedicated back up LB in the squad, though looking forward to Sutton's return.

Subs were all really good when they came on, even though at the time I wasn't sure if bringing off Kraev and Zawada was a good call. They were all positive with their contributions and look to be pushing to start.

Hopefully we got all our nerves out of the system in the first half and it's onwards and upwards from here!👍

FFS! from the first time that ref blew his whistle to move the thrower back to his mark I knew he'd ruin the game. He spent so much time worrying about ball placement and where the throw was being taken and yet missed crucial things when it mattered. The Sasse red, was, probably a red, but a real harsh one. He slipped, was challenging for the ball and there didnt appear to be any studs up. VAR obviously checked it adn saw no obvious error. As with most teams that go down to 10 we looked the better side after the card. Adelaide, dominated the posession and had shots but they were poor. Didn't really take charge of the game and conceded a goal that caught them on the break, Kosta made a brilliant run and Waine took the poacher's goal well. What really dissappointed me with this ref is that the shot that "injured" Sail defelcted of the Adelaide #10 and then went out, but he was so focussed on telling Sail to get up that he took his eye off the ball and then fell for Clough's claim that it was a corner, which they then went to score from.
Proud of the boys for walking away with the draw. I thought some of the lads were slow to get into the game, Ugarkovic seemed that he was definately off the pace for the first 30 mins. Lewis made a huge impact when he came on, sa did Sutton. Uffie will be furious with how that game was officiated.

I don't rate Sasse at all. Granted we havnt seen much of him (just cup and this game), his decision making seems extremely poor at best. There is always one bad signing though.

I think Taley made a mistake starting all 6 new signings rather than letting them dilute into the team more slowly. We were disjointed and that seems to have likely cost us three points and a red. The fact Adelaide had a settled core should have forced Taley to do the same as much as possible.

The quality of the football was not as good as the quality of all those pony tails 

School hols would have impacted it I think

I think Kosta found it easier to play once Waine came on  - I was worried they would be competing for the same ball, but it looks the opposite. 

Nommag

I don't rate Sasse at all. Granted we havnt seen much of him (just cup and this game), his decision making seems extremely poor at best. There is always one bad signing though.

I think Taley made a mistake starting all 6 new signings rather than letting them dilute into the team more slowly. We were disjointed and that seems to have likely cost us three points and a red. The fact Adelaide had a settled core should have forced Taley to do the same as much as possible.

It can take a while for new players in the team to gel in seasons gone so I wonder if he was gambling the early hit to get them all some game time together and test out what does and doesn't work.

Given the silly red I am super chuffed with the draw.

Its a weird feeling that the goal the tied it up is so deflating.  Switch the goals around and you leave the stadium dancing that we punched one.  

Before the game I would have been happy enough with a 1 all draw.  After the red I would have been stoked.  But given the timing of the goal it felt so deflating.

Ah well.  A hard lesson learned, a solid enough result to start the season, some great signs of potential in the team.

COYN

Just wanted to say that while Yan Sasse didn't cover himself in glory with his 25 minute cameo to start the season, I do have to hark back to when Ulises Davila came on the scene and admittedly had a bang average outing first up against WU a few seasons back, and people were calling him out after that one...

Don't discount the lad based on that. 

Unfortunate slip-up, probably a bit over eager to make an impression on the match early on in his Nix career and now gets to sit on the sidelines for a couple of weeks at the start of a new campaign. He'll absolutely be kicking himself more than anyone on here ever could.

That aside, I liked the determination from the lads today. When you come off a season like last one, where you've shipped 50 goals I instantly thought that it could be a damaging start to the season, especially if we get bush-whacked at home. But the boys were resilient, we kept our shape and backed each other up with bodies on the line (Poor Sail 😅).

I look forward to CCM with optimism, at least we've got some minutes in our legs and they've yet to kick off their campaign. A wee bit of an advantage for next Sunday perhaps?

Hopefully we manage to keep 11 on the park next time out though, let's see what these boys can really do.

I think us sitting deep for most of the game avoided giving space in-behind to the likes of Halloran, Blackwood and Goodwin, all of whom are very fast players. 

Despite the red card, I think Sasse wasn't that great for the amount of time he was on the field. In fact I think we played better once he got off the field. But alas, must be "first game" stuff.

Big test next week.

Great signs from that performance I reckon. Kraev and Zawada look the goods, Waineo is firing, Lewis and Ugarkovic looked good together in the second half, Old looked lively and we nearly won the damn match with 10 men.

Obviously jury’s still out on Sasse and all our new players will need time to click, but we’ve still got Sutton, Ball and Rufer to come back in and we’re finally back home!

Our defence still needs sharpening up and I really hope we pick up Boxall Jr, but I’m feeling optimistic for the season ahead.

Friar Tuck

Great signs from that performance I reckon. Kraev and Zawada look the goods, Waineo is firing, Lewis and Ugarkovic looked good together in the second half, Old looked lively and we nearly won the damn match with 10 men.

Obviously jury’s still out on Sasse and all our new players will need time to click, but we’ve still got Sutton, Ball and Rufer to come back in and we’re finally back home!

Our defence still needs sharpening up and I really hope we pick up Boxall Jr, but I’m feeling optimistic for the season ahead.

I think Lewis and Ugarkovic could be a very formidable CM pairing, if they both fire of course. I think that is something we lacked a bit last season. Hard road for Rufer to get a starting spot, competition for that crucial position is nothing but good though

Friar Tuck

Great signs from that performance I reckon. Kraev and Zawada look the goods, Waineo is firing, Lewis and Ugarkovic looked good together in the second half, Old looked lively and we nearly won the damn match with 10 men.

Obviously jury’s still out on Sasse and all our new players will need time to click, but we’ve still got Sutton, Ball and Rufer to come back in and we’re finally back home!

Our defence still needs sharpening up and I really hope we pick up Boxall Jr, but I’m feeling optimistic for the season ahead.

great performance in the second half, Zawada really impressed me, I liked how Payne and Kosta / Old worked together to nullify the threats down their wing. All the subs did well. Defenders almost got thru with a clean sheet. 
Great being back in the crowd again. 

I also really liked that with 1 down we still attacked.  Harder for the opposition to score if you have the ball.

Lewis and Urgovich (sorry about spelling) excite me as a pairing. I thought Urgs got better and better and showed some class toward the end of the game.

Disappointing to concede so late, but had I been offered a draw after the red I would have said yes happily.

Questions is, how to you get Waine in the starting line up? Zwanda looked good to me and was unlucky with the fouls against him. Strong player with speed, and Barbs showed why he is an asset. Work rate, made a good run and shot which led to our goal.

MetalLegNZ

Lewis and Urgovich (sorry about spelling) excite me as a pairing. I thought Urgs got better and better and showed some class toward the end of the game.

Disappointing to concede so late, but had I been offered a draw after the red I would have said yes happily.

Questions is, how to you get Waine in the starting line up? Zwanda looked good to me and was unlucky with the fouls against him. Strong player with speed, and Barbs showed why he is an asset. Work rate, made a good run and shot which led to our goal.

Start Waine and Zawada up top, sub Kosta on. Will definitely get trickier when Ball comes back but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him played in one of the wide 10 roles.

Pretty dire game tbh. Wind didn’t help.

I thought that wasn’t a red card though. Surely VAR could see Sasse slipped and tried to pull out of the challenge. Not serious foul play for me.

Crowd was quiet but there was nothing to cheer about really. I expect more effort next week.

nufc_nz

Pretty dire game tbh. Wind didn’t help.

I thought that wasn’t a red card though. Surely VAR could see Sasse slipped and tried to pull out of the challenge. Not serious foul play for me.

Crowd was quiet but there was nothing to cheer about really. I expect more effort next week.

I agree about the swirling wind with a windchill factor of about 2 degrees. 

Also as you said about the red card. There was no intent or malice in it and he slipped and tried to avoid it. that said their player milked it, there was hardly really full force contact.

Great to see the crowd again. Lots of newbies in the zone and some regulars moved to different areas. 

Had to laugh at two newbies sitting in row A, telling us to sit down. Your in the fever zone, we stand. This isn't Eden Park, you're in our area. 

Sasse:
‘Looks to play differently to the rest of the team.’

Yep- and it’s not quite sure what he’s going to bring. Seemed really upset about the card. Seems to be one of those players who plays from the heart. Think he’ll be happier out if the wind. I think he’d also have played better if we played on the counter like we did in the second half, which again was easier with the wind as it was. Might not get much space and needs to bring more if he’s playing deep and in tight areas. 

I almost wonder if we shouldn’t play a front three with the quality we have in a forward line: Zawada, Waine, Kosta, Ball, Sasse

I know we won’t, be those all seem to be guys with a reasonable claim to be starting. 

Then again (and considering Pennington’s ball to Zawada and last ditch tackle on Clough) choosing a midfield 3 out of Lewis, Kraev, Old, Ugarkovic, Pennington and Rufer also seems a tough ask with the quality there. 

Hard to know what to make of the game. Think we’re weak at FB compared to the quality in the rest of the squad. But we’re also not in any kind of groove and it’s uncertain when we will settle down with all the new players coming in. Sutton coming back might unlock a lot of potential. 

Urgarkovic looks to get into the box with more intent than the others. Harsh to leave Waine or Zawada out. 

Re-Sail and the ref, I think we missed an outfield captain. He’d have never treated Davila (or that prick Goodwin) that way. We didn’t have anyone he respected in his ear and for example Kraev got a (deserved) yellow, but one Adelaide players didn’t get and he didn’t get any help with the persistent fouling against him. It was almost the opposite as a couple of times the ref called us back for a foul which allowed the opposition to regroup. You look at how the Adelaide players as a group dictated to him what they believed the calls should be and you have to feel that was a factor in the Sasse red. 

Some questions answered, but some not. 

We don’t know what our best team is, who’s going to be our top scorer, how Uffie’s going to manage squad pressure and if we are any good or not compared to the title challengers. 

Hopefully we can get better weather and put on a show next week!

Yup definitely agree with the sentiment here... will take 1-1 with 10 men all day, but the timing of the goal was gutting. 

I was quite impressed with how Wooton/Laws went in defence. Dominated in the air when they needed to, and didn't really look under threat. Think back to last season, and we were constantly caught out of position in defence, poor marking and shipping goals. The fact that Laws/Wooton have barely got a mention post-game says a lot. 

Onwards and upwards, think CCM will provide a solid test next week. COYN!!

martinb

Sasse:
‘Looks to play differently to the rest of the team.’

Yep- and it’s not quite sure what he’s going to bring. Seemed really upset about the card. Seems to be one of those players who plays from the heart. Think he’ll be happier out if the wind. I think he’d also have played better if we played on the counter like we did in the second half, which again was easier with the wind as it was. Might not get much space and needs to bring more if he’s playing deep and in tight areas. 

I almost wonder if we shouldn’t play a front three with the quality we have in a forward line: Zawada, Waine, Kosta, Ball, Sasse

I know we won’t, be those all seem to be guys with a reasonable claim to be starting. 

Then again (and considering Pennington’s ball to Zawada and last ditch tackle on Clough) choosing a midfield 3 out of Lewis, Kraev, Old, Ugarkovic, Pennington and Rufer also seems a tough ask with the quality there. 

Hard to know what to make of the game. Think we’re weak at FB compared to the quality in the rest of the squad. But we’re also not in any kind of groove and it’s uncertain when we will settle down with all the new players coming in. Sutton coming back might unlock a lot of potential. 

Urgarkovic looks to get into the box with more intent than the others. Harsh to leave Waine or Zawada out. 

Re-Sail and the ref, I think we missed an outfield captain. He’d have never treated Davila (or that prick Goodwin) that way. We didn’t have anyone he respected in his ear and for example Kraev got a (deserved) yellow, but one Adelaide players didn’t get and he didn’t get any help with the persistent fouling against him. It was almost the opposite as a couple of times the ref called us back for a foul which allowed the opposition to regroup. You look at how the Adelaide players as a group dictated to him what they believed the calls should be and you have to feel that was a factor in the Sasse red. 

Some questions answered, but some not. 

We don’t know what our best team is, who’s going to be our top scorer, how Uffie’s going to manage squad pressure and if we are any good or not compared to the title challengers. 

Hopefully we can get better weather and put on a show next week!

Still reckon Ball should’ve been made captain (not that that would’ve made a difference today)

MetalLegNZ

Lewis and Urgovich (sorry about spelling) excite me as a pairing. I thought Urgs got better and better and showed some class toward the end of the game.

Disappointing to concede so late, but had I been offered a draw after the red I would have said yes happily.

Questions is, how to you get Waine in the starting line up? Zwanda looked good to me and was unlucky with the fouls against him. Strong player with speed, and Barbs showed why he is an asset. Work rate, made a good run and shot which led to our goal.

I know that's what you think but it won't work, IMHO. We'll be back to  where we were last Christmas. You need a real DM in front of this defence. I give it 3 more games before we need to change the midfield.

If you want Waine to start you'd push Kosta out wide instead of Sasse. Whicvh might happen next weekend against CCM as Sasse will have a week ban to see out. The question is, what do you do when Ball is back? He has to start! Logically he'll be out wide so either Sasse or Kraev make way for him. I don't expect to see Zawada start every game though, I see Uffie taking a horses for courses approach. Might see Zawada rotaded with Kraev up top, or Waine?

Just a comment on the crowd number and some people's disappointment. Here are the crowds from this weekend.
City/Western 7,501
Brisbane/Macarthur 8,521
Sydney/Victory 21,840
Phoenix/Adelaide 8,325
WSW/Perth 8,984 

Looking at Sasse's performances in the Cup and in this first league game, I wonder whether the problem actually lies elsewhere.   
We might be questioning his footballing skills, while I think it might be his communication / comprehension / that are a problem at this stage. He might be overcompensating for not hearing everything that is being said around him, in English.
I am not expecting him to be Pele, Zico or Socrates, but he would have to have a good, perhaps a natural,  "teamplay" understanding to make up for language or comprehension issues. These will take more than a few weeks to improve it seems.

Think it’s clear that the only clubs that can pull a crowd in a regular basis is Victory and Sydney FC

2ndBest

Just a comment on the crowd number and some people's disappointment. Here are the crowds from this weekend.
City/Western 7,501
Brisbane/Macarthur 8,521
Sydney/Victory 21,840
Phoenix/Adelaide 8,325
WSW/Perth 8,984 

Nixieboys222

Think it’s clear that the only clubs that can pull a crowd in a regular basis is Victory and Sydney FC

2ndBest

Just a comment on the crowd number and some people's disappointment. Here are the crowds from this weekend.
City/Western 7,501
Brisbane/Macarthur 8,521
Sydney/Victory 21,840
Phoenix/Adelaide 8,325
WSW/Perth 8,984 

Welnix must break with 8K after charging almost double for the season pass.

number8

Nixieboys222

Think it’s clear that the only clubs that can pull a crowd in a regular basis is Victory and Sydney FC

2ndBest

Just a comment on the crowd number and some people's disappointment. Here are the crowds from this weekend.
City/Western 7,501
Brisbane/Macarthur 8,521
Sydney/Victory 21,840
Phoenix/Adelaide 8,325
WSW/Perth 8,984 

Welnix must break with 8K after charging almost double for the season pass.

they may be double but you also get access to the women's home games too

Didn't realise it at the time, but our goals went Waine -> Lewis -> Kosta -> Waine. All three locals kids. 

Hence the discussion whether it is better to play some of the new players at a time with the settled squad around them, or to throw them in all at the same time (Zawada, Kraev, Sasse) and see how that works out.  I am not so keen on the latter.
On a related note, I suspect once David Ball is back he may not be a 90 min player, but still a starter rather than a sub.

Zawada and Kraev both started slowly and grew into the game, like much our the team did, felt like both were just getting going when they were hooked. I'm hoping that Yan Sasse was still in the starting slowly phase when he got (deservedly) sent. I like what I see from most of the team and it feels like the first time in a long time we've got selection headaches for starting spots and genuine depth on the bench. I'm expecting Barba to drop into Sasse's role for the next one and Waine to get the start he's earned.

The defensive organisation from the team was good for a first game & a man down, Adelaide limited to half chances & long shots until right at the end, and even that was from a corner that should've been a goal kick, ref was too worried about Sail's nuts to watch the ball deflect out off the Adelaide striker apparently. Still should've defended it better.

Great to be back, gutted I can't make the next one but its gonna be a great season if that's anything to go off.

Can we please have two men on the posts for corners

Nelfoos

Zawada and Kraev both started slowly and grew into the game, like much our the team did, felt like both were just getting going when they were hooked. I'm hoping that Yan Sasse was still in the starting slowly phase when he got (deservedly) sent. I like what I see from most of the team and it feels like the first time in a long time we've got selection headaches for starting spots and genuine depth on the bench. I'm expecting Barba to drop into Sasse's role for the next one and Waine to get the start he's earned.

The defensive organisation from the team was good for a first game & a man down, Adelaide limited to half chances & long shots until right at the end, and even that was from a corner that should've been a goal kick, ref was too worried about Sail's nuts to watch the ball deflect out off the Adelaide striker apparently. Still should've defended it better.

Great to be back, gutted I can't make the next one but its gonna be a great season if that's anything to go off.

They were building slowly but the subs brought in way more intensity, hopefully it's just a matter of them getting used to the intensity of an actual A-League game.

Based on where they have played in their careers, I'm not sure the 'intensity of the A League' is an issue.

Takes time to gel. Titles aren't won in round one.

Feverish

Can we please have two men on the posts for corners

that's up to the keeper right? and he's capt.

MetalLegNZ

Based on where they have played in their careers, I'm not sure the 'intensity of the A League' is an issue.

Takes time to gel. Titles aren't won in round one.

If I recall correctly, three years ago, the general theme on here was one of unhappiness with Devilla after his first game.  It does take time for those who come in as a big signing outside of the A league to settle in, no matter how many training sessions and practice games are completed.

On the corner I didn’t notice any Phoenix players bringing it to the attention of the referee that it was a goal kick. 

Feverish

Can we please have two men on the posts for corners

I just thought it was pretty funny that the dude on the edge of the box was unmarked scored. 2 minutes later there's another corner, unmarked again, got the ball again and we're lucky he didn't score again.