WPM R13 vs Adelaide United | Sat 11th Jan | 5pm | RoF / Sky Sports 2 - Kids Go Free

austin111

Memo to Phoenix players....Could you please stop kicking the ball into your own net.....thanks
Today was a better effort, against a good team. Ruined by an own goal and a goal from a keeper error. Its going to be a long season but hopefully some of the youngsters will develop. 

Yes. I think that it was a reasonable performance. Some of our passing sequences were very good. Our defensive organisation was it's usual high standard. 

Crowd was 7,133 I think. Which is better than I had expected.  Disappointing result.  Can't think of anything else to add on top of what has already been said.  

Second half was waaaay better.

Really gutted that we lost because of an own goal and a bad error.

Also really hope Sutton isn't out with a serious injury.

Heard on the post match coverage thing on Sky Sport Sutton apparently has some sorta virus/illness 

Bananas

Also really hope Sutton isn't out with a serious injury.

First half was not good, another own goal and one shot all half. Second half, we went out and did actually play some football, and Piper had something to give, Ishige with a great delivery from the corner for the assist.

Second goal we conceded, the most frustrating one and could've easily been avoided, but even after going down, we were still pushing for the equaliser to the very end.

Another loss, but positive (if pretty mild) signs against a team who have now won six on the road. I really don't know how we're going to go against Sydney and Talay on Wednesday and it sounds like we might not have Sutton.

HattyCW

Much better second half from us, so frustrating how we conceded that second goal, Josh had collected the ball, Wootton got in his way, Josh dropped it, and it fell to Jovanovic.

Looking at the replay - Josh drops the ball before he hits into Wootton. Had Wootton not been there Josh would likely have been able to just jump on it and smother it and wouldnt have been a goal - but he did fumble the ball before hitting into Wootton

Mainland FC

These constant YF Forum outages are doing my head in.

Every game day being the worst…hmm

HattyCW

Much better second half from us, so frustrating how we conceded that second goal, Josh had collected the ball, Wootton got in his way, Josh dropped it, and it fell to Jovanovic.

I begin to have suspicious thoughts. 

He can’t be starting the next game, which was a pity because he was good, covered for Hughes and I was beginning to be impressed in our defensive unit again…last year we made mistakes, but the attack scored more goals, keeper covered defenders and defenders cleared off the line and it didn’t hurt us as much…

kungfu panda

austin111

Memo to Phoenix players....Could you please stop kicking the ball into your own net.....thanks
Today was a better effort, against a good team. Ruined by an own goal and a goal from a keeper error. Its going to be a long season but hopefully some of the youngsters will develop. 

Yes. I think that it was a reasonable performance. Some of our passing sequences were very good. Our defensive organisation was it's usual high standard. 

I think that’s somehow worse though. We’ve had a bunch of reasonable performances that we’ve lost. There was no reason to lose. Both goals self inflicted. Not enough threat on attack.

Today was a massive, massive step up from the City game but we were still second best by some distance and deserved to lose. I think the fact that our goals were conceded so catastrophically kinda papers over that. But add Payne, Rufer and Rojas to this mix and who knows, maybe we could scrape 6th and win a playoff game. Onwards and upwards. 

Still don't get why no Ball.

Anyway, why have we wasted foreign spots on Oly and Nagasawa? Was underwhelmed when they were announced and they have lived up to my expectations.

We finally sort out our set play issues this season after 17ish years of woeful free kicks and corners but the wheels have fallen off elsewhere and the fans know it. I've not seen the Cake Tin that empty in a long while.

Looking back at last years table and we've now lost the same amount of games as CCM who went onto win! 

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I think Wooten summed it up pretty good in his post match interview. He said they shoot themselves in the foot by conceding soft early goals and don't have much to offer going forward. He said he feels sorry for Kosta who's a proven goalscorer but gets no service.

Sums it up pretty much. We have an unreliable keeper (last year we had the best in the comp) a shaky defence, a midfield that isn't able to control games and lacks the drive forward (last year we had Old, Kraev) and that leaves Kosta up front without Zawada to hold the ball up.

Can't see it get much better unfortunately. We simply need better players. The kids need time but maybe we can add depth during this transfer window.

valeo

Ranix

I want to see some football from the Nix with positive intent. 
Those old cliché's
A week is a long time in sport
Your only as good as your last game.
Hopefully the football leads to a more positive forum this coming week. 

Good luck with Piper, Al Taay, Retre, Sheridan and Kelly Heald all starting. I'd say the WeeNix would give this team a run for their money. The only one of these possibly starting for another A-League team (aside from Brisbane/Perth/Newcastle) is  Retre.

Huge indictment for Nagasawa that he's on the bench with this sorry lot starting

I can't believe Piper is getting more game time. He must be the best trainer in the world because he genuinely looks like one of the worst players to ever put on a Nix shirt so far

I didnt expect much if anything from Piper either today, but from the start of the game I thought he put in a very decent shift. Very well done to him.

Losing because of yet another epic goalkeeping howler makes me see red. If it was a young local keeper trying to find his feet at this level I would understand but when it's an import player it really stings. Compare the value Kurto provides for Macarthur to what JO is providing for us. Actually no don't, it just makes it all the more frustrating.

Glossing over the two goals we conceded - we were much better second half and were in with a bit of a chance for a while.

Whatever 11 we have available and put out, the disappointment today was the going backwards - more than a few times we went 50m backwards from set pieces and throw ins in the opposition half!

And if you are losing with the clock ticking down, you have to have some urgency to get the bloody thing forwards. We didnt

Piney summed it up in the second half, saying something along the lines of.. ‘the second half actually looks like a contest between two teams’.

We started to press a little bit and were a bit more direct and moved the ball a bit quicker. Not great, but at least we created some chances, and registered our first shot on target in nearly 2 full matches.

Sitting back and defending all day and hoping for a lucky counter is so frustrating to watch as a fan. At least if you press and have an attacking mindset, it becomes a contest.

We made it a contest in the second half by being more positive. You’ll see this with all the good teams in the league, they press hard quite consistently and move the ball quickly.

InsulinMachine

I think Wooten summed it up pretty good in his post match interview. He said they shoot themselves in the foot by conceding soft early goals and don't have much to offer going forward. He said he feels sorry for Kosta who's a proven goalscorer but gets no service.

Sums it up pretty much. We have an unreliable keeper (last year we had the best in the comp) a shaky defence, a midfield that isn't able to control games and lacks the drive forward (last year we had Old, Kraev) and that leaves Kosta up front without Zawada to hold the ball up.

Can't see it get much better unfortunately. We simply need better players. The kids need time but maybe we can add depth during this transfer window.

If we'd actually had Zawada for more than the odd Cameo last season, we would have won the league by a country mile. Probably by a record.

Fenix

Glossing over the two goals we conceded - we were much better second half and were in with a bit of a chance for a while.

Whatever 11 we have available and put out, the disappointment today was the going backwards - more than a few times we went 50m backwards from set pieces and throw ins in the opposition half!

And if you are losing with the clock ticking down, you have to have some urgency to get the bloody thing forwards. We didnt

Agree completely. 

We seem to be afraid to make those sideways and forward passes into tight spaces that top teams make (in this league and higher). 

So often a player will have the opportunity to move the ball forward (or heck even sideways) pretty comfortably, but instead just plays the easy pass backwards, and all the momentum is lost, we end up deep in our half, pressed by the opposition, and then lose the ball and start sitting back and defending again. 

Happens all the time.

I prefer Mo starting to Nagasawa. 
I thought that Nagasawa did actually put a little effort in when he came on. I wouldn't start him again for now.

brookem

Heard on the post match coverage thing on Sky Sport Sutton apparently has some sorta virus/illness 

Bananas

Also really hope Sutton isn't out with a serious injury.

 Sweet thanks.  That's hopefully better.

Ninja

Fenix

Glossing over the two goals we conceded - we were much better second half and were in with a bit of a chance for a while.

Whatever 11 we have available and put out, the disappointment today was the going backwards - more than a few times we went 50m backwards from set pieces and throw ins in the opposition half!

And if you are losing with the clock ticking down, you have to have some urgency to get the bloody thing forwards. We didnt

Agree completely. 

We seem to be afraid to make those sideways and forward passes into tight spaces that top teams make (in this league and higher). 

So often a player will have the opportunity to move the ball forward (or heck even sideways) pretty comfortably, but instead just plays the easy pass backwards, and all the momentum is lost, we end up deep in our half, pressed by the opposition, and then lose the ball and start sitting back and defending again. 

Happens all the time.

Nail head. That first half was so frustrating how risk averse we were. Like instead of trying to find the winger direct, we would safely play via the fullback which meant any opportunity was lost.

kungfu panda

I prefer Mo starting to Nagasawa. 
I thought that Nagasawa did actually put a little effort in when he came on. I wouldn't start him again for now.

Liked Al-Taay directing traffic. Also liked Nagasawa a bit further forward too. 

So frustrated with Oluwayemi he did several very good things and maybe even one or two great things, and then blotted his copy book. 

But as well- he covered for Hughes’ clearance error today and we should have covered for his too- someone should have had the back post covered and we should have scored more. 

We redeemed each other this way last year. Errors weren’t fatal because we weren’t going to let in another goal, or even the goal from that error, and we were going to score more anyway. 

Sigh. 

Plenty said here but a few comments on player performance:

I also don’t see how Piper can ever play centre back. He’s a bullock at the gate, an excitement machine and a maverick and we want that towards the front. 

I feel we want our defense dull, and free from excitement and error preferably. 

Also Alex King allows just kicking Kosta again. And players raking achilles a couple of times too. That’s never a legitimate tackle or attempted tackle. Can’t remember who on who. Feel we need someone to return the favour with change- or rather I woulda booted Bratton in the bollocks the other day. Why I’m not a pro among many reasons! 

Adelaide typified by Isais and the guy who collected the ball in his face. They deal it out, but like a roll around too. But Alex King will protect Isais, particularly in the second half and not Kosta in the first. 

Ishige needs to learn a bit from Daniel et al about how and when to milk contact. Will be much more effective when he does. Unfortunate, but it’s what it is. 

Are the players scared to kick it forwards so they don’t end up with lower pass completion stats and get sidelined or look bad for future contracts? 

brookem

Heard on the post match coverage thing on Sky Sport Sutton apparently has some sorta virus/illness 

Bananas

Also really hope Sutton isn't out with a serious injury.

Could be. He looked dizzy, not in pain.

I just listened to the post match press conference by Chiefy. Did I miss something? Sounds like Rufer was actually concussed - I thought it was glandular fever? Sounds like he'll be out for a while now too.

Sutton was also playing sick today and is now in doubt for the next match. I'm not sure on how sensible it was to play him then but really there weren't many options. Other than that it sounds like Rojas is out for a long while and we won't even see Payne back next week by the sounds. Only good news is Conchie might be back next week.

I think he was comparing somebody's recovery/return process to how it works with concussion, not saying it was concussion, and i couldn't hear the journo's question so didn't hear who he was referring to when he said all that but it could have been Rufer.

Unless Sutts has been smooching Alex, hopefully he will just be out the one game with illness. I think we already knew that all of Rojas, Payne & Rufer were going to be out for a few games yet, but good to know Roa Conchie will be back soon. 

anaveragestem

I just listened to the post match press conference by Chiefy. Did I miss something? Sounds like Rufer was actually concussed - I thought it was glandular fever? Sounds like he'll be out for a while now too.

Sutton was also playing sick today and is now in doubt for the next match. I'm not sure on how sensible it was to play him then but really there weren't many options. Other than that it sounds like Rojas is out for a long while and we won't even see Payne back next week by the sounds. Only good news is Conchie might be back next week.

Apparently that first half performance from Sutton was with a virus. What a trooper he’s been over the seasons, playing CM, watching his peers jet off overseas as he got injuries, and today thought he was immense, considering. Hope he gets a whole array of choices of what and where he wants to play next season, as time and again he’s stood up for us. 

Edit: oh right you’re all talking about it. 

rua_taniwha

Are the players scared to kick it forwards so they don’t end up with lower pass completion stats and get sidelined or look bad for future contracts? 

Might just be the coaches instructions... Not much you can do about that as a player

Stating the obvious, we lost the game because of self sabotage.
The overall performance was much better than last wee, which was a low point. That we scored from a corner sums up our attacking ability. Some of the long balls to Kosta where ridiculous, there is literally nothing he can do with those overhead ball between a defender and a goalkeeper. Piper great header for the goal, fires everyone up, his touch and passing is not good enough. I can see Walker and LBS will bring money for the club in the future, they look exiting. Sadly Walker fluffed some good chances with some fancy step overs and forget to shoot. But I like this guy.
Retre and Al Taay looked more confident. Ishige was lively and his set piyate excellent. Nagasawa looked like the player we expected.
I think we can build on it this performance and with a bit of luck we could have a point.
We should see that game as our base level and improve on it. I loved the fans boo when they back passed it. On the bright side, thanks to our loss, Adelaide is above Auckland on the ladder  :-)

InsulinMachine

rua_taniwha

Are the players scared to kick it forwards so they don’t end up with lower pass completion stats and get sidelined or look bad for future contracts? 

Might just be the coaches instructions... Not much you can do about that as a player

Dont get why people carry on as if we are the only team in football to do it.

ballane

InsulinMachine

rua_taniwha

Are the players scared to kick it forwards so they don’t end up with lower pass completion stats and get sidelined or look bad for future contracts? 

Might just be the coaches instructions... Not much you can do about that as a player

Dont get why people carry on as if we are the only team in football to do it.

The difference is, we are closer to the Masters League than Man City in playing that way. Thats why it’s frustrating.

I had a big comment to make bu the webpage did it's crash thing and didnt save it.
Basically neither team deserved to win last night, we played poorly and gave Adelaide to goals. Piper needs to be played as a winger, he at least created some chances. Cheif has some serious questions to answer with his tactics and recruitment. We have no leadership, Wootten and Kosta are leaders by example not the rallying the troops kind like Rufer (Retre should be stepping up but he has been poor).

I hope Piper stays at #9 if we are going to keep playing him. It's antithetical to Chiefy's philosophy to have a big centre forward but he has shown in this game and previous games that he is a threat in that area of the pitch. He's not quite technically up to speed for any other position, any mistakes he makes as a 9 are less likely to result in a goal for the opposing team. And we currently only have two specialist senior attackers in Kosta and Ishige given OVH's exit and Ball's continued exile. I don't think Walker, Supyk or LBS are particularly close to being starters at this level, though Walker is the closest of the three. 

Sheridan did struggle a bit today but I hope Chiefy sticks with him at RB while Payne is out because he is generally very decent there, it'd be crazy to put Piper back there or al-Taay back there. I want to see us try a proper 3 man midfield of al-Taay, Retre & Nagasawa and see how that goes, though I can't see Chiefy trying it. 

imanixsupporter

I hope Piper stays at #9 if we are going to keep playing him. It's antithetical to Chiefy's philosophy to have a big centre forward but he has shown in this game and previous games that he is a threat in that area of the pitch. He's not quite technically up to speed for any other position, any mistakes he makes as a 9 are less likely to result in a goal for the opposing team. And we currently only have two specialist senior attackers in Kosta and Ishige given OVH's exit and Ball's continued exile. I don't think Walker, Supyk or LBS are particularly close to being starters at this level, though Walker is the closest of the three. 

Sheridan did struggle a bit today but I hope Chiefy sticks with him at RB while Payne is out because he is generally very decent there, it'd be crazy to put Piper back there or al-Taay back there. I want to see us try a proper 3 man midfield of al-Taay, Retre & Nagasawa and see how that goes, though I can't see Chiefy trying it. 

To state the obvious. If I was an opposing coach, I would tell my wingers to put as many hard low balls into the box as possible because Wellingtons young defenders can't deal with them.

I like Sheridan as a Right FB though. I watched him closely last season particularly in the game we lost against CCM towards the end of the season, I was impressed.

YoungHeartHM

God damn this forum being down.

Anyways.

Despite the result today, there are more than a few people on here who are in need of rescinding/eating their words re: Corban Piper.

That is all.

I think he just showed how little effort some of the others have been putting in. I thought he had the touch of an elephant and the technique of an NPL - level player at best, but he looked like he gave a shark - so I give him props for that and it was by far his best performance for us (even taking the goal away)

I still have no idea what position he is supposed to play