WPM R12 vs Adelaide United | Sun 11th Jan | 3:00pm | RoF / SS2

That was a roller coaster of a game. 

- First half was probably one of the worst we've played all season. 
- Saw a stat about how we've conceded most of our goals in the first 15 minutes of either half. Is this a team preparation/focus thing? 
- Credit to Payney, Hughesy and Piper in particular for getting us back in the game. They've got that similar tenacity/gritty attitude to them that any team needs when they find themselves behind. 
- Back four looked good, wouldn't mind if we kept that going forward (although tough on Hughes potentially) but a back 4 of Payne, Tuiloma, James, and Armiento as the Cacace-esque. wingback is a pretty strong A-League back-line. 
- When we went to a back four we also started to have more meaningful possession, in the first half we had 55% possession but not a shot on target, tried to play keep ball in heavy wind and found ourselves 2-0 down. Second half it looked like our defenders had a lot more options in front of them to progress the ball. 
- LBS is fast becoming one of my favourites, he definitely deserves more minutes. 

Sydney away is no easy feat, if it's not a 90 minute performance it could get ugly. If I'm practicing my optimism, at least that would mean the jafas would no longer be top of the table! 

I would suggest with players coming back that we revert to a more traditional 4-4-2 configuration.

Tuiloma, James, Hughes, Payne
Armiento,Rufer,Ngag, Retre
Eze, Piper

Just as an example. We have the players to fill that formation.

Crap first half, great second half. Saved by the post twice - Adelaide. Those two would've been outstanding goals if they had gone in. That last 20 minutes was very intense. Not suprised by the crowd numbers, That wind would've put a lot off. But to those whom attended, Job well done, lots of noise in parts. 

Oh & Thanks Red Wig Steve for making yet another trip across the Ditch to support your team. I note you missed out on a temp of 49.5 Celcius in Adelaide over the weekend. 

I thought Hughesy was excellent all game. Maybe the only one consistent for 90 minutes.

Also, whoever was doing the team pep talk before the second half, could they also do it before the first half?  
I understand the tactics and setup might have been different in two halves but the glaring lack of oomph from us from the kickoff in the first half surely cannot be down to the wind factor alone?
Was it the wind?? I know it is easy for me to complain from the comfort of my TV lounge in Christchurch, happy to hear from people people who were at the game as to how much was the wind and how much was the team.

LG

I would suggest with players coming back that we revert to a more traditional 4-4-2 configuration.

Tuiloma, James, Hughes, Payne
Armiento,Rufer,Ngag, Retre
Eze, Piper

Just as an example. We have the players to fill that formation.

Crap first half, great second half. Saved by the post twice - Adelaide. Those two would've been outstanding goals if they had gone in. That last 20 minutes was very intense. Not suprised by the crowd numbers, That wind would've put a lot off. But to those whom attended, Job well done, lots of noise in parts. 

Oh & Thanks Red Wig Steve for making yet another trip across the Ditch to support your team. I note you missed out on a temp of 49.5 Celcius in Adelaide over the weekend. 

Uhh, 49°? Maybe in the middle of nowhere in SA, but not in Adelaide. And it hit 43° Wednesday and Thursday but not on the weekend.

A few people seem to have been bagging Najjarine, Aussie journeyman etc but I think that's harsh. He had 2 great shots on goal, the second of which hit the bar, a nice little scoop pass to LBS to set him free, and was involved in a lot of our best moments. I'd take him rather than Piper in the attacking third. 

Will be interesting to see if we do switch to a back 4 for the next game. The only problem with the back 4 is who suits LB. Armiento could be used there but he has been playing LWB and isn't naturally a defender so not sure with him playing further back if he'll get found out defensively, Sheridan looked alright in the second half but we were completely dominating Adelaide and you did notice him not being able to use his left foot well, LKH could work there as a more defensive LB that doesn't overlap so it'll be more like a 3atb in possession with Payne pushing a lot higher, and then Tulimoa suggested above, has never played LB but I guess he could fit playing a similar role to how we'd deploy LKH.

tuiloma played a lot of his domestic, pre pro club football, as well as his first all whites games at left back.

i would agree however, that it wouldn't be the best way to deploy someone who would potentially be our best player.

immortalbird

A few people seem to have been bagging Najjarine, Aussie journeyman etc but I think that's harsh. He had 2 great shots on goal, the second of which hit the bar, a nice little scoop pass to LBS to set him free, and was involved in a lot of our best moments. I'd take him rather than Piper in the attacking third. 

Both were excellent second half and had a big hand in grabbing a point.

I honestly dont see Italiano changing his plan from 3 at the back, likely to have Hughes, James and Tuiloma as the starting 3, with Armiento/LKH on the left and Payne/Sheridan on the right.
He may change to 4 at the back if need be but otherwise he's been very staunch on his plan A.

Mainland FC

Also, whoever was doing the team pep talk before the second half, could they also do it before the first half?  
I understand the tactics and setup might have been different in two halves but the glaring lack of oomph from us from the kickoff in the first half surely cannot be down to the wind factor alone?
I know it is easy for me to judge it from the comfort of my TV lounge in Christchurch, happy to hear from people people who were at the game as to how much was the wind and how much was the team.

Yeah, it seemed like we were over thinking it tactically instead of getting stuck into a team that shipped four goals last week and were at a low ebb. We let them feel comfortable and once Goodwin got on the ball we were in trouble. 

What I know about tactics would fit on a postage stamp but if you are the home team and you are coming off the back of a rousing 3-0 win then it should be a case of, as Nelson said, "never mind the manoeuvres, just get at them".

I don't think it plays into Payne's strengths to be playing full back in a four vs wing back in a 5 - for that reason alone I don't see any change that results in Payne playing right full back in a four.  if they do move to four he will probably play right wing.

immortalbird

A few people seem to have been bagging Najjarine, Aussie journeyman etc but I think that's harsh. He had 2 great shots on goal, the second of which hit the bar, a nice little scoop pass to LBS to set him free, and was involved in a lot of our best moments. I'd take him rather than Piper in the attacking third. 

Without Piper we’d have lost, so that seems a bit odd. 

And while Najjarine hasn’t been poor, if you compare his impact to Payne’s or last year’s 10s in Marco or Chico he hasn’t had a defining impact on games. 

I think the harshest comments have been for Sheridan who did a great job filling in and at least stopping the bleeding in yet another position he’s been asked to fill!

Last few successful games we’ve had we’ve seen Payne or Kazu find people or find the net. I suspect that the first shot of Ramy’s was in fact a cross looking for the player at the back post. 

Summarising the complaints I guess it’s that if he’s being greedy, like Piper and Armiento, then we want him to be a bit more relentless and successful. Otherwise we lose games. If he’s creating and linking we’d like to see him move the ball a bit faster, be a bit more in tune with the runners and/or not die with the ball as much if he’s trying to beat a player.

Perhaps that’s unfair, but we’re ignorant fans who like winning or if that’s unavailable not losing. 

He’s also come into the team at a time when there’s a lot of negative fan sentiment and we’re low down in a tough league. I think there’s 3-4 players we’re begrudgingly happy with and a lot we’d like to see more from. I’m sure he’s doing some good things, but until that starts helping a winning run he’ll be the guy hitting the post once a game max in the bottom team. 

I mean last year Ishige was set piece dynamite and was close on the most assists in club history, if not the most, but failed to win over a bunch of fans who thought he lacked a bit of toughness on the ball, decisiveness and composure in front of goal. He’d score amazing goals and miss easy ones. And we didn’t have Piper knocking in easy ones at that point.

And as I get criticism for too many words I probably should stop here. Top 6, goals and assists and up tempo attack please.

Outpost

immortalbird

A few people seem to have been bagging Najjarine, Aussie journeyman etc but I think that's harsh. He had 2 great shots on goal, the second of which hit the bar, a nice little scoop pass to LBS to set him free, and was involved in a lot of our best moments. I'd take him rather than Piper in the attacking third. 

Both were excellent second half and had a big hand in grabbing a point.

Outpost

immortalbird

A few people seem to have been bagging Najjarine, Aussie journeyman etc but I think that's harsh. He had 2 great shots on goal, the second of which hit the bar, a nice little scoop pass to LBS to set him free, and was involved in a lot of our best moments. I'd take him rather than Piper in the attacking third. 

Both were excellent second half and had a big hand in grabbing a point.

Agreed, it is not a "either / or" situation.  Najjarine has better footballing skills (precision, tactical awareness) while nobody can beat Piper on sheer "grunt" and effort.    Najjarine can shoot from a distance, but can be muscled off (nowhere near as much as Ishige though), while Piper is excellent in the goalmouth and is hard to be pushed off the ball easily.  Both provide different qualities to the team.
I look forward to see more of Mileusnic next week, too.  I could not see enough from his short appearance late in the game, but he made no obvious errors either.

Outpost

Mainland FC

Also, whoever was doing the team pep talk before the second half, could they also do it before the first half?  
I understand the tactics and setup might have been different in two halves but the glaring lack of oomph from us from the kickoff in the first half surely cannot be down to the wind factor alone?
I know it is easy for me to judge it from the comfort of my TV lounge in Christchurch, happy to hear from people people who were at the game as to how much was the wind and how much was the team.

Yeah, it seemed like we were over thinking it tactically instead of getting stuck into a team that shipped four goals last week and were at a low ebb. We let them feel comfortable and once Goodwin got on the ball we were in trouble. 

What I know about tactics would fit on a postage stamp but if you are the home team and you are coming off the back of a rousing 3-0 win then it should be a case of, as Nelson said, "never mind the manoeuvres, just get at them".

100%, having an analyst background as a head coach has it's pros and cons. One of the cons is that football isn't played on a whiteboard. Hard to execute 'perfect tactics' in gusty conditions, and perhaps the tactics weren't well suited to take on a team lacking confidence. Think we needed to take the game to them and be more direct rather than getting too focused on the nuts and bolts. 

Mainland FC

Also, whoever was doing the team pep talk before the second half, could they also do it before the first half?  
I understand the tactics and setup might have been different in two halves but the glaring lack of oomph from us from the kickoff in the first half surely cannot be down to the wind factor alone?
Was it the wind?? I know it is easy for me to complain from the comfort of my TV lounge in Christchurch, happy to hear from people people who were at the game as to how much was the wind and how much was the team.

Think people are really complaining to much about how we played that first half. Yep it wasnt pretty and there were plenty of mistakes.
But the very same thing happened in the 2nd half to Adelaide just coincidence i think not.
The thing is BOTH teams struggled with is the wind and i dont think much can be taken away from the game   because if the influence it had.
Just really surprised so many are bitching about how we played that first half and few taking any notice of the wind.
Cant recall many windier games since we started.

immortalbird

A few people seem to have been bagging Najjarine, Aussie journeyman etc but I think that's harsh. He had 2 great shots on goal, the second of which hit the bar, a nice little scoop pass to LBS to set him free, and was involved in a lot of our best moments. I'd take him rather than Piper in the attacking third. 

There was only one person consistently bagging Najjarine 

immortalbird

A few people seem to have been bagging Najjarine, Aussie journeyman etc but I think that's harsh. He had 2 great shots on goal, the second of which hit the bar, a nice little scoop pass to LBS to set him free, and was involved in a lot of our best moments. I'd take him rather than Piper in the attacking third. 

It's hard to comprehend the apparent compulsion to scapegoat at least somebody every week – even where that requires desperately dismissing goal contributions to maintain a narrative unsupported by the facts. 

image.png 37.28 KB

coochiee

immortalbird

A few people seem to have been bagging Najjarine, Aussie journeyman etc but I think that's harsh. He had 2 great shots on goal, the second of which hit the bar, a nice little scoop pass to LBS to set him free, and was involved in a lot of our best moments. I'd take him rather than Piper in the attacking third. 

There was only 1 person consistently bagging Najjarine 

I wonder if that is done as click bait to get a reaction from everyone or if he has a genuine dislike for the player? Personally, I think he has done quite well for the Phoenix in his appearances.

Armiento was getting the same treatment in earlier matchday threads. It seems more so just a tedious penchant for vibes-based takes that are as consistently negative as they are lacking in substance.

And it really was blowing a gale yesterday. We had to move (was only partially the reason) from 22 to 32 to escape it. Really was wild. To the point the corner flag spent much of its time nearly horizontal (in the corner). 

cheesecake

Armiento was getting the same treatment in earlier matchday threads. It seems more so just a tedious penchant for vibes-based takes that are as consistently negative as they are lacking in substance.

To be fair in earlier rounds I think Najjarine was a bit invisible/AWOL.
But he's definitely growing as a presence on the field, as the season progresses.

Hughesie in the team of the week.  But surrounded far too much blue goo

Screenshot_2026-01-12-14-40-08-03_40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg 747.07 KB

cheesecake

Armiento was getting the same treatment in earlier matchday threads. It seems more so just a tedious penchant for vibes-based takes that are as consistently negative as they are lacking in substance.

Seems to be a greater degree of negativity on the forums and in YF on game days than i can recall being the case in earlier seasons.
Perfect example yesterday when we went down to 2-0 whats the chant that screams out from the zone " Your nothing special we lose every week" 
In seasons past the drummer would have been banging out "come on Phoenix or Oh Wellington.
Day before the Woman went down 2-0 also cant recall the Lose every week chant being broken out for them. Its not as if their results are any better than Mens.

Haven't you noticed? The world has become a more negative place. Blame Covid. Blame climate change. Blame social media. Blame Trump. Blame anything. Blame anyone.

Jessie Merino

Haven't you noticed? The world has become a more negative place. Blame Covid. Blame climate change. Blame social media. Blame Trump. Blame anything. Blame anyone.

yeah, i was thinking the same.

i'll add, 'actively seek outrage'

You had me

until you put Trump in there.

Jessie Merino

Haven't you noticed? The world has become a more negative place. Blame Covid. Blame climate change. Blame social media. Blame Trump. Blame anything. Blame anyone.

ballane

cheesecake

Armiento was getting the same treatment in earlier matchday threads. It seems more so just a tedious penchant for vibes-based takes that are as consistently negative as they are lacking in substance.

Seems to be a greater degree of negativity on the forums and in YF on game days than i can recall being the case in earlier seasons.
Perfect example yesterday when we went down to 2-0 whats the chant that screams out from the zone " Your nothing special we lose every week" 
In seasons past the drummer would have been banging out "come on Phoenix or Oh Wellington.
Day before the Woman went down 2-0 also cant recall the Lose every week chant being broken out for them. Its not as if their results are any better than Mens.

To play devils advocate, results haven't exactly inspired optimism in a long time. We haven't won 2 games in a row in over 400 days, and have barely won at home lately. 

This season I'm enjoying a lot more than last season, even if we aren't consistently picking up wins, our style of play is a lot easier on the eye than last season. (memories of last season's results/playing style would still be fresh in peoples minds too). 

Since2007

ballane

cheesecake

Armiento was getting the same treatment in earlier matchday threads. It seems more so just a tedious penchant for vibes-based takes that are as consistently negative as they are lacking in substance.

Seems to be a greater degree of negativity on the forums and in YF on game days than i can recall being the case in earlier seasons.
Perfect example yesterday when we went down to 2-0 whats the chant that screams out from the zone " Your nothing special we lose every week" 
In seasons past the drummer would have been banging out "come on Phoenix or Oh Wellington.
Day before the Woman went down 2-0 also cant recall the Lose every week chant being broken out for them. Its not as if their results are any better than Mens.

To play devils advocate, results haven't exactly inspired optimism in a long time. We haven't won 2 games in a row in over 400 days, and have barely won at home lately. 

This season I'm enjoying a lot more than last season, even if we aren't consistently picking up wins, our style of play is a lot easier on the eye than last season. (memories of last season's results/playing style would still be fresh in peoples minds too). 

Yeah get that but in seasons past we were a lot worse than  we are at the moment. Clearly remember us getting battered one game and what comes out from the zone. Okay everyone lets pretend we just scored the zone proceeds to go crazy while the rest of the ground wonders WTFs going on.

holeinone

• ballane

  Mainland FC

  Also, whoever was doing the team pep talk before the second half, could they also do it before the first half?  
  I understand the tactics and setup might have been different in two halves but the glaring lack of oomph from us from the kickoff in the first half surely cannot be down to the wind factor alone?
  Was it the wind?? I know it is easy for me to complain from the comfort of my TV lounge in Christchurch, happy to hear from people people who were at the game as to how much was the wind and how much was the team.

  Think people are really complaining to much about how we played that first half. Yep it wasnt pretty and there were plenty of mistakes.
  But the very same thing happened in the 2nd half to Adelaide just coincidence i think not.
  The thing is BOTH teams struggled with is the wind and i dont think much can be taken away from the game   because if the influence it had.
  Just really surprised so many are bitching about how we played that first half and few taking any notice of the wind.
  Cant recall many windier games since we started.

  ballane

  Mainland FC

  Also, whoever was doing the team pep talk before the second half, could they also do it before the first half?  
  I understand the tactics and setup might have been different in two halves but the glaring lack of oomph from us from the kickoff in the first half surely cannot be down to the wind factor alone?
  Was it the wind?? I know it is easy for me to complain from the comfort of my TV lounge in Christchurch, happy to hear from people people who were at the game as to how much was the wind and how much was the team.

  Think people are really complaining to much about how we played that first half. Yep it wasnt pretty and there were plenty of mistakes.
  But the very same thing happened in the 2nd half to Adelaide just coincidence i think not.
  The thing is BOTH teams struggled with is the wind and i dont think much can be taken away from the game   because if the influence it had.
  Just really surprised so many are bitching about how we played that first half and few taking any notice of the wind.
  Cant recall many windier games since we started.

• somewhere in the back of my brain i remember brockie taking a shot on a very windy day that the keeper thought he had it covered and the wind blew the ball away from him and into the goal. do not even remember who the other team were.

It was against WSW in 2012. The league shared the clip again last July which got 500k views across TikTok and Instagram reels. 

ballane

Since2007

ballane

cheesecake

Armiento was getting the same treatment in earlier matchday threads. It seems more so just a tedious penchant for vibes-based takes that are as consistently negative as they are lacking in substance.

Seems to be a greater degree of negativity on the forums and in YF on game days than i can recall being the case in earlier seasons.
Perfect example yesterday when we went down to 2-0 whats the chant that screams out from the zone " Your nothing special we lose every week" 
In seasons past the drummer would have been banging out "come on Phoenix or Oh Wellington.
Day before the Woman went down 2-0 also cant recall the Lose every week chant being broken out for them. Its not as if their results are any better than Mens.

To play devils advocate, results haven't exactly inspired optimism in a long time. We haven't won 2 games in a row in over 400 days, and have barely won at home lately. 

This season I'm enjoying a lot more than last season, even if we aren't consistently picking up wins, our style of play is a lot easier on the eye than last season. (memories of last season's results/playing style would still be fresh in peoples minds too). 

Yeah get that but in seasons past we were a lot worse than  we are at the moment. Clearly remember us getting battered one game and what comes out from the zone. Okay everyone lets pretend we just scored the zone proceeds to go crazy while the rest of the ground wonders WTFs going on.

True, I remember the conga line across the stadium and a few Bohemian Rhapsody's while a few goals down!  

In the past we haven't really had a proper rival to compare ourselves to until now. It adds to the angst that they're doing so well, their more obnoxious fans are rubbing it in, and we have nothing to show for a response going 0-5 against them. 

To be honest couldnt give a shark what they think but do think its hilarious that we seem to be in so many of their heads despite results going all their way. 
No doubt there was some stupid stuff we did in the zone back in the day but give me that any day over the CONSTANT negativity of some and we lose every week chants.
Find it hilarious that some people continually post on line negative stuff about the club,players,staff and management. Then on days like Sunday put their hands up to to take part in Fan Appreciation. 🙄

Was surprised by that chant but again, assumed it was all in jest. We don’t win much at home at all. Fever were very quiet in the second half, when I expected the drum and chants be going non stop to drive the team.

ballane

Since2007

ballane

cheesecake

Armiento was getting the same treatment in earlier matchday threads. It seems more so just a tedious penchant for vibes-based takes that are as consistently negative as they are lacking in substance.

Seems to be a greater degree of negativity on the forums and in YF on game days than i can recall being the case in earlier seasons.
Perfect example yesterday when we went down to 2-0 whats the chant that screams out from the zone " Your nothing special we lose every week" 
In seasons past the drummer would have been banging out "come on Phoenix or Oh Wellington.
Day before the Woman went down 2-0 also cant recall the Lose every week chant being broken out for them. Its not as if their results are any better than Mens.

To play devils advocate, results haven't exactly inspired optimism in a long time. We haven't won 2 games in a row in over 400 days, and have barely won at home lately. 

This season I'm enjoying a lot more than last season, even if we aren't consistently picking up wins, our style of play is a lot easier on the eye than last season. (memories of last season's results/playing style would still be fresh in peoples minds too). 

Yeah get that but in seasons past we were a lot worse than  we are at the moment. Clearly remember us getting battered one game and what comes out from the zone. Okay everyone lets pretend we just scored the zone proceeds to go crazy while the rest of the ground wonders WTFs going on.

I clearly remember being at a Nix game in Christchurch well before the earthquakes, sitting behind the opposition goal.  Can't remember who the opposition were. We got hammered 0:4 or something such, and with a minute to spare Brockie scored a consolation goal for us. We all went absolutely wild as if we had won the league. Ah, memories.

The negativity is cos we were terrible last season, are near the bottom of the table and though we are playing overall much better than last season, we’ve had a few stinkers. And our best isn’t much better than other teams, though this is absolutely true across the board of almost all teams in the league. 

We should have won yesterday. 

Whether following in on Retre’s shot, making a run and gambling on Nagasawa’s cross, creating more after Payne went off, reacting earlier to our issues down the left, getting LBS’s foul call, holding our runs so we weren’t offside, Eze’s unmarked header…

However the net result of this for me if I don’t look at the table, especially with Carlo coming back, is a buoyant feeling going into the second half of the season. We are capable of scoring goals and no team can ever feel secure against us, no matter how bad we’re playing! 

With the inconsistency across the league it’s difficult to know where everything will settle down. We could be 4th or we could be last. I think that the inconsistency in everyone’s mood is the same. Was it Reg or someone else said that this season will be a rollercoaster? 

ballane

To be honest couldnt give a shark what they think but do think its hilarious that we seem to be in so many of their heads despite results going all their way. 
No doubt there was some stupid stuff we did in the zone back in the day but give me that any day over the CONSTANT negativity of some and we lose every week chants.
Find it hilarious that some people continually post on line negative stuff about the club,players,staff and management. Then on days like Sunday put their hands up to to take part in Fan Appreciation. 🙄

Yep, I got to see Mr Negative up close yesterday. Keyboard Warrior. Anyway., we are on the cusp. Players returning from injury, Billy T arriving. the weather forecast is looking up football wise. Come on Phoenix, come on Phoenix.

WanderingSheep

Was surprised by that chant but again, assumed it was all in jest. We don’t win much at home at all. Fever were very quiet in the second half, when I expected the drum and chants be going non stop to drive the team.

That was my take on the chant too, that rather than being toxic negativity it’s meant as stroppy defiance in the face of our critics (especially coming off the back of an emphatic win the week before). But maybe I’m just overthinking it.

Simon B

WanderingSheep

Was surprised by that chant but again, assumed it was all in jest. We don’t win much at home at all. Fever were very quiet in the second half, when I expected the drum and chants be going non stop to drive the team.

That was my take on the chant too, that rather than being toxic negativity it’s meant as stroppy defiance in the face of our critics (especially coming off the back of an emphatic win the week before). But maybe I’m just overthinking it.

I like your optimism but given the negativity that seems to prevail at the moment im less inclined to put it down to that.
Just dont think thats the go to chant when your teams gone down to 2-0.

So many chants I don't hear anymore, in no particular order:  
* Yellow Army
* We're the Phoenix the mighty Phoenix, we're not the Kingz or Knights...
* Disco
* Home and away

Maybe there should be a chant shuffle list or chant practice night?  Since our crowds are small, we need to make noise of 10k.