WPM R11 vs Sydney FC | Sat 7th Jan | 7:00pm | SS7

Second leg of the Phoenix double header. 

Absolute must win for the Boys.

We have beaten every team except Sydney FC in Talay's reign.

Lolley is still suspended for this one which is good for us

Lets go Nixxx

no excuses i think this week, I think the team is entering the "must win" area if they want to achieve a top 4 spot or higher, as Sydney is one of those teams competing for that spot. We are well into the season, almost halfway through and it's time to start clicking and hitting our straps like previous seasons. Sydney is a team on the brink of a crisis with injuries, a coach under huge pressure and a inpatient fan base. I think Nix will win, if not, i think the pressure on Talay and the squad will just increase. I really think this is a huge game for both teams 

Wellington Phoenix men’s squad: 3. Finn SURMAN, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Steven UGARKOVIC, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Ben OLD, 9. Oskar ZAWADA, 10. David BALL, 11. Bozhidar KRAEV, 12. Lucas MAURAGIS, 13. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 14. Alex RUFER, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 20. Oli SAIL (gk), 21. Joshua LAWS, 23. Clayton LEWIS, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 31. Yan SASSE, 40. Alex PAULSEN (gk).

IN: 3. Finn SURMAN (returning from injury), 8. Ben OLD (returning from injury).

OUT: 35. Noah KARUNARATNE (demoted).

Unavailable: 19. Sam SUTTON (illness). 

RR

Wellington Phoenix men’s squad: 3. Finn SURMAN, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Steven UGARKOVIC, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Ben OLD, 9. Oskar ZAWADA, 10. David BALL, 11. Bozhidar KRAEV, 12. Lucas MAURAGIS, 13. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 14. Alex RUFER, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 20. Oli SAIL (gk), 21. Joshua LAWS, 23. Clayton LEWIS, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 31. Yan SASSE, 40. Alex PAULSEN (gk).

IN: 3. Finn SURMAN (returning from injury), 8. Ben OLD (returning from injury).

OUT: 35. Noah KARUNARATNE (demoted).

Unavailable: 19. Sam SUTTON (illness). 

Mauragis is turning out to be a handy addition this season, with all the games Sutton has missed.
Ironically at the Jets where he came from. They have Ingham now playing at LB. 

Two teams with close to the worst defensive records so far this season. So should be plenty of goals in this one.

Ranix

Two teams with close to the worst defensive records so far this season. So should be plenty of goals in this one.

So it'll be a scoreless draw then.

Are there any details around Sam Suttons continued illness during the transfer window? Am I just being pessimistic? 

I think Lucas M is doing a fine job but competition for places and all that. 

rua_taniwha

Are there any details around Sam Suttons continued illness during the transfer window? Am I just being pessimistic? 

I think Lucas M is doing a fine job but competition for places and all that. 

All eyes on the League One crowds this weekend!

Sydney 2 Wellington 1

With the results over night. Looking at the table. Most teams now having played 10 games. We are 1 point off bottom place. 3 points off 6th place.
Becoming a must win game this to stay in touch with the top half of the table.

must win for both teams, you'd think? Sydney are only 3 point above Perth at the bottom. As frustrating as our draws have been this season they are currently helping us stay in contact with the 6. A whole lot of "if onlys" this season already.

theprof

must win for both teams, you'd think? Sudney are only 3 point above Perth at the bottom. As frustrating as our draws have been this season they are currently helping us stay in contact with the 6. A whole lot of "if onlys" this season already.

I agree that must win is probably a little hyperbolic but I do think it could be quite an important game later in the season to pick up the three from.

We wouldn't want to be near the bottom with filthy Victory now would we?

SYD 2-1 NIX

We always seem to play teams into form + we have not beaten Sydney in Talay's reign.

Won't be able to watch live but sure as shark gonna have my phone switched off until 11pm when I get relieved from parental duties and can catch the replay. Tonight's the night we are gonna turn our fortunes against Sydney FC around!

COYN!

It's time for Talay and the most expensive team in Nix history to step up. No excuses.

probably the worst Sydney have looked for a few years, so now would be the best tiem to strike. Hopefuly the lads have worked on being ruthless in front of goal and will put a few away today.

This is it lads, we're gonna thrash Sydney. I can feel it deep inside.

Rufer back into the starting team! this will be interesting to see how they go as a partnership. 

🔥TEAM NEWS🔥

▪️ Rufer is back & starts alongside Lewis in the middle
▪️ Rufer wears the armband today
▪️ Barbarouses comes into the Starting XI
▪️ Sasse & Ugarkovic are on the bench

Kickoff is at 7pm (NZT) - Watch the game live on @skysportnz #COYN! 💪

💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/GV547uGTjh

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) January 7, 2023

Huge for Rufer to be back in the starting XI and he gets the captains armband too. 🙌

Our prayers have been answered, hopefully allows Sail to just focus on keeping the ball out of the net.

COYN!

YoungHe.\rt

🔥TEAM NEWS🔥

▪️ Rufer is back & starts alongside Lewis in the middle
▪️ Rufer wears the armband today
▪️ Barbarouses comes into the Starting XI
▪️ Sasse & Ugarkovic are on the bench

Kickoff is at 7pm (NZT) - Watch the game live on @skysportnz #COYN! 💪

💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/GV547uGTjh

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) January 7, 2023

Huge for Rufer to be back in the starting XI and he gets the captains armband too. 🙌

Our prayers have been answered, hopefully allows Sail to just focus on keeping the ball out of the net.

COYN!

 Good point! That potentially could be the reason why Sail has been off par. Too much weight on his shoulders.

NZPhoenixFan

YoungHe.\rt

🔥TEAM NEWS🔥

▪️ Rufer is back & starts alongside Lewis in the middle
▪️ Rufer wears the armband today
▪️ Barbarouses comes into the Starting XI
▪️ Sasse & Ugarkovic are on the bench

Kickoff is at 7pm (NZT) - Watch the game live on @skysportnz #COYN! 💪

💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/GV547uGTjh

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) January 7, 2023

Huge for Rufer to be back in the starting XI and he gets the captains armband too. 🙌

Our prayers have been answered, hopefully allows Sail to just focus on keeping the ball out of the net.

COYN!

 Good point! That potentially could be the reason why Sail has been off par. Too much weight on his shoulders.

been saying this all season! hope to see him back to his good old self.

NZPhoenixFan

YoungHe.\rt

🔥TEAM NEWS🔥

▪️ Rufer is back & starts alongside Lewis in the middle
▪️ Rufer wears the armband today
▪️ Barbarouses comes into the Starting XI
▪️ Sasse & Ugarkovic are on the bench

Kickoff is at 7pm (NZT) - Watch the game live on @skysportnz #COYN! 💪

💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/GV547uGTjh

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) January 7, 2023

Huge for Rufer to be back in the starting XI and he gets the captains armband too. 🙌

Our prayers have been answered, hopefully allows Sail to just focus on keeping the ball out of the net.

COYN!

 Good point! That potentially could be the reason why Sail has been off par. Too much weight on his shoulders.

I'm not saying he's been piss poor either, but often when we've conceded goals, I have thought on at least 2-3 occasions so far this season 'The Oli Sail of 1-2 seasons ago might have kept that out'

Maybe that's just me being picky, but he does have 10 others in front of him before it gets into his net too. Really hoping we can show some defensive stability and get a clean sheet today.
 
🤞

Let’s slap down a win lads and then go on a run!

Fire up 🔥!

Whatever happened to the Yellow strip?

This better be Wellington ball. Zawada is easily first to the ball and the Sydney player is in late.

Wtf have we given that ball back to Sydney? Their player came in late in a bad decision and hurt himself.

sydney player off for concussion, which he caused himself,

I am so fudgeing sick of this "commercial arrangement" or whatever the excuse is around not wearing our home kit more.
Yellow and black is the club identity and we leave it at home to wear dark blue against a side in blue?

it's annoying but commercial arrangements are just that! The sponsors pay money to get their name seen, the club takes the money and has to honour the committment. All we can do is voice our displeasure and hope the club changes it next season.

Zawada!!!!! great run, composes himself and he scores! - but apprently he's shark!

Zawada! Fudgeing beautiful!
Excellent work by the boys to keep the play alive while Yazbek was off the field with his knock too. Smart play.

Good start boys 

Yazbek subbed too, failed the HIA i guess?
fantastic to take advantage of the extra man, great pass from Lewis.

He's a quick learner. Rushed it last week. Calmer and accurate this week. Touch wood. 

COYN

Agreed. We wear Melbourne  Victory colours more than our own. 
Edit - quote got lost, was replying to post a few above. 

Ollie's back!
remove the armband and his reflexes improve - top save.

jesus, Grant shoves Kraev in the back and the ref dowsnt notice!
Ridiculous!