WPM R14 vs Newcastle Jets | Sat 27th Jan | 8:00pm | Sky Sport 5

Wonder what the weather forecast is like, a 6pm AEDT game might be a tad hot if its anything like last weekend.

Over halfway in the season. 

Missing Tim Payne for two games and potentially missing Pennington and Rufer up ahead. 

I’d love to see us pull away from the other challengers. Maybe that means a bit of form from Kraev or Ball? Or Oldy. Or a starting spot for Oskar Van Hattum. He’s knocking on the door certainly.

It seems unlikely any of the kids will be game changers, but we’d love it if they were! A little Marco or Waino scoring spree to push us up there. 

Who’s playing RB? And can they play from the back?

Sheesh- I’m firing up now! Still a long way to go…big tests for Chief and the boys.

RR

Wonder what the weather forecast is like, a 6pm AEDT game might be a tad hot if its anything like last weekend.

Early doors, but the Nix may strike it lucky.
At the moment for the Castle, forecast 37 degrees Thursday then a nasty 40 on Friday!!
But the cloud is predicted to come in on the weekend, so then down into the mid 20s.
https://www.google.com/search?q=newcastle+weather&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBAU824AU824&oq=newcastle+weather&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyDwgAEEUYORiDARixAxiABDINCAEQABiDARixAxiABDIHCAIQABiABDIHCAMQABiABDIHCAQQABiABDIHCAUQABiABDIHCAYQABiABDIHCAcQABiABDIHCAgQABiABDIHCAkQABiABNIBCDYzNTBqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Yesterday here on Sunny Coast, QLD was a horrible early 30s & humid as fudge. But today mids 20s with the cloud cover, a light breeze and far far more pleasant.

Either don't expect a high press from Jets. I'm sure Chiefy will have learnt from the 3-0 loss at the ROF back on the 9th Dec.

Jets are playing tonight so might be a little tired come Saturday 

The jets are destroying Brisbane which kinda sucks, so they are resting their key players as early as 55-60 min

I think the jets are actually better than their league position shows. Lots of young guys...  mark my works, they will be top 4 next year.

For this game im expecting a win....but would take a draw away! 

martinb

Over halfway in the season. 

Missing Tim Payne for two games and potentially missing Pennington and Rufer up ahead. 

I’d love to see us pull away from the other challengers. Maybe that means a bit of form from Kraev or Ball? Or Oldy. Or a starting spot for Oskar Van Hattum. He’s knocking on the door certainly.

It seems unlikely any of the kids will be game changers, but we’d love it if they were! A little Marco or Waino scoring spree to push us up there. 

Who’s playing RB? And can they play from the back?

Sheesh- I’m firing up now! Still a long way to go…big tests for Chief and the boys.

I'd predict Al-Taay to start RB - filled in there during the Aus Cup and did a job. Failing that Pennington switched there on the weekend or youngster Matt Sheridan can play there too.
Lineup prediction:
GK Paulsen
RB Al-Taay
CB's Wootton + Surman
LB Kelly-Heald
CM's Rufer, Pennington, Old
Wingers Kosta and Kraev
Striker Ball (but van Hattum is close)

Zawada looks like he's getting close too. Posting quite a few strong looking pics on social media.

Sutton to RB? Inverted fullback style. A few options for Chiefy to play with.
Have never thought much of OVH either but based on recent cameos I think it's definitely time he gets a solid half hour off the bench

Smeltz4PM

Sutton to RB? Inverted fullback style. A few options for Chiefy to play with.
Have never thought much of OVH either but based on recent cameos I think it's definitely time he gets a solid half hour off the bench

Odds are that could happen either of the next 2 games, away to Newcastle (6pm KO) and then a visit to Brisvegas (6.45pm KO). The heat & humdity is likely to be a factor the next 2 weeks.

Smeltz4PM

Sutton to RB? Inverted fullback style. A few options for Chiefy to play with.
Have never thought much of OVH either but based on recent cameos I think it's definitely time he gets a solid half hour off the bench

True - Sutts went to RB when he came off the bench 69' into the match against Victory last Friday and stayed until 83' when LKH went off and Sutts moved to LB. Another decent option although our wing-backs have never really inverted, they push on and look to overlap with the wingers. Will be interesting to see what Chiefy does.

Personally I'll be a little disappointed if we can't get 6 points from these two away games. I think that we're better than both Newcastle and Brisbane. If we get it, it sets us up for a 55 point season if we follow the adage of draw away and win at home.

Obviously too many ifs but 🤞 

SamCoughlan

Smeltz4PM

Sutton to RB? Inverted fullback style. A few options for Chiefy to play with.
Have never thought much of OVH either but based on recent cameos I think it's definitely time he gets a solid half hour off the bench

True - Sutts went to RB when he came off the bench 69' into the match against Victory last Friday and stayed until 83' when LKH went off and Sutts moved to LB. Another decent option although our wing-backs have never really inverted, they push on and look to overlap with the wingers. Will be interesting to see what Chiefy does.

Pennington was still at RB until Al-Taay replaced him, Sutton was in the midfield in front of him.

With Casey Reibelt as referee:

NEW: 1 win, 0 draws, 0 losses
WEL: 3 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses

Watched the Jets v Roar extended highlights. The Jets seem to be a  talented side and they love attacking the opposition. 
They also struggled a lot when Brisbane upped the pressure - even with a man behind. Hopefully we can do the same (11 v 11 this time though)...

A lot of our wins have been by 1 goal margins. It'd be great to put a few past the Jets, but I think we'll play it cautiously

Its 11 in the morning in Newcastle and already 37 expected to be hotter tomorrow and hot again Saturday. So think people need to be  careful expecting the boys to demolish the Jets. Given possible temperatures i think the boys will do well to get away with a draw.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350157642/league-men-leaders-wellington-phoenix-welcome-back-oskar-zawada

Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano said he was delighted to welcome Zawada back into the fold and did not believe his return would lessen Barbarouses’s impact.

However, Italiano was wary of rushing him back too soon and indicated he would have a bigger role in the Phoenix’s following match, against Brisbane Roar next Friday.

Really really hoping Kosta continues his scoring form, despite Zawada being on the scene.

Seems it might be cooler than forecasters predicted. Currently 22 at 8.00am and forecast says to expect overcast and 23 at kick off. So might not be as bad for the lads as expected still humid though.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350159549/tim-payne-suspension-forces-tactical-rethink-wellington-phoenix

Scholarship player Matthew Sheridan is the only other specialist right back in the squad, but it’s more likely that Italiano will look to a midfielder to fill the void and find another way to exploit the opposition.

“I think from a tactical point of view we will adjust the squad according to what we have available, which might indicate a change in shape and a change in structure and change in how we approach the game,” Italiano admitted.

“We respect them immensely and I know their coach very well, he was one of my original mentors so we’ve always had a tactical mind shift whenever we play each other as we know each other very, very well.

Fire Up.
COYN.
A win would be so awesome. Put us back clear at the top of the table.

Kinda hoping for an OVH start tonight. He's been making a difference in the limited minutes he's been getting.

Hopefully Zawada on at some point to get some match fitness after a long layoff. He'll need to get firing again pretty quickly if he yearns for a move back to Europe at the end of his contract.

COYN! FIRE UP! 🔥🦅

How we lineup today - powered by @OPPONewZealand📱

▪️ Sutton & Al-Taay come in to the line up
▪️ Zawada & Hughes return to the match day squad

Kickoff is at 8pm (NZT) - Watch the match live on @skysportnz 5⃣#COYN! 🔥https://t.co/SAVRs49H6E | 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/EgPpfY0rWz

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) January 27, 2024

Didn't get my wish, but Chiefy is cooking up something here. 

Come on lads. 3 points and back to the top of the table please.

Odd that Old is on the bench when Rollo says he has an injured ankle 

Al-taay or sutts at rb?
And if it’s Al-taay, then is sutts playing LWish?

Go Phoenix. 
Crap black shirts,but at least we have yellow shorts

But it's the black and yellow against the yellow and blacks.   Not a good idea!

Interesting colour combination.
Away strip, home shorts. 🤨

Hahah the kit whingers have all just spontaneously combusted 🤣🤣

🔥🔥🔥 go you Nix

But, erm anyone put off by the yellow shorts clashing with the black shirts???

So Al-Taay is captain and Sutton is a striker according to that graphic… some people in this league just don’t care, so they?

awwww
Pennington with the almost assist!

Pen!!
easy call
big hit on Ball
Rufer stepping up?

Rufer pen, again?

VAR trying it's best to rule it out for offside.

lol

theprof

VAR trying it's best to rule it out for offside.

RUFER!!!
new pen taker!
El capitain steps up!

Ruf Ruf Ruf is on fire!

No youtube stream? Come on you aussies, sort it out