WPM R15 vs Macarthur | Mon 20th Jan | 9:00pm | SkySport 3

Not sure why this is a Monday night in Aussie but can the Nix cap off the Wellington Anniversary Day holiday with 3 points?

If Sutton is able to start, as Chiefy seemed to be suggesting was possible in the post-match presser, I'd love to see this lineup:

AKH
Sheridan Hughes Wootton LKH
Retre Nagasawa Sutton
Kosta Piper Ishige 

imanixsupporter

If Sutton is able to start, as Chiefy seemed to be suggesting was possible in the post-match presser, I'd love to see this lineup:

AKH
Sheridan Hughes Wootton LKH
Retre Nagasawa Sutton
Kosta Piper Ishige 

Piper has proven to be more useful our wide, certainly not a target man up front.

theprof

imanixsupporter

If Sutton is able to start, as Chiefy seemed to be suggesting was possible in the post-match presser, I'd love to see this lineup:

AKH
Sheridan Hughes Wootton LKH
Retre Nagasawa Sutton
Kosta Piper Ishige 

Piper has proven to be more useful our wide, certainly not a target man up front.

100% agree, Piper been opening up our attack on the right and should continue to do so.

More often than not a garbage touch from Piper on the right either lets an opponent in for a dangerous attack, or stops a dangerous attack of ours in its tracks. I can't stomach any more of that. Kosta is too isolated all the way up top by himself. I think it should be tried.  

And from out wide he can make late runs into a CF position which is probably more effective and difficult to defend against.

Does Chiefy stick with AKH or bring Josh back in?

What does everyone reckon? - Not so much what you want to happen but what do you think will happen

Has to keep Alby. Josh has lost his place for now. 

Clean sheet means he gets another go. Surely.

AKH has done more than enough to justify another start. Josh is on thin ice. Two slip ups already in 12 games is when a GK at any club is sitting on the bench. To perhaps not ever come back...

EmperorHamilton

theprof

imanixsupporter

If Sutton is able to start, as Chiefy seemed to be suggesting was possible in the post-match presser, I'd love to see this lineup:

AKH
Sheridan Hughes Wootton LKH
Retre Nagasawa Sutton
Kosta Piper Ishige 

Piper has proven to be more useful our wide, certainly not a target man up front.

100% agree, Piper been opening up our attack on the right and should continue to do so.

I like what Piper has done but he doesn't have the pace to be playing wide.

We played Piper and LKH wide to act as target men for us to go long from the back. Playing Piper more central as someone for Kosta to play off isn't the worst suggestion.

RR

EmperorHamilton

theprof

imanixsupporter

If Sutton is able to start, as Chiefy seemed to be suggesting was possible in the post-match presser, I'd love to see this lineup:

AKH
Sheridan Hughes Wootton LKH
Retre Nagasawa Sutton
Kosta Piper Ishige 

Piper has proven to be more useful our wide, certainly not a target man up front.

100% agree, Piper been opening up our attack on the right and should continue to do so.

I like what Piper has done but he doesn't have the pace to be playing wide.

We played Piper and LKH wide to act as target men for us to go long from the back. Playing Piper more central as someone for Kosta to play off isn't the worst suggestion.

Agreed, the amount of times he failed to trap the simplest of balls which should have started an attack, did my head in. Central or nothing for me.

Half a Pint

Does Chiefy stick with AKH or bring Josh back in?

What does everyone reckon? - Not so much what you want to happen but what do you think will happen

The way Chiefy said in the post match presser that 'it felt like we had an experienced keeper' - Or words to that effect, at the back against Sydney suggests to me that AKH has usurped Oluwayemi for now.

Having both Sutts & Payne available from the get go would be a massive boost for us too. Lord knows it's all hands on deck at the minute for us as we surely enter must win territory for this one.

WanderingSheep

RR

EmperorHamilton

theprof

imanixsupporter

If Sutton is able to start, as Chiefy seemed to be suggesting was possible in the post-match presser, I'd love to see this lineup:

AKH
Sheridan Hughes Wootton LKH
Retre Nagasawa Sutton
Kosta Piper Ishige 

Piper has proven to be more useful our wide, certainly not a target man up front.

100% agree, Piper been opening up our attack on the right and should continue to do so.

I like what Piper has done but he doesn't have the pace to be playing wide.

We played Piper and LKH wide to act as target men for us to go long from the back. Playing Piper more central as someone for Kosta to play off isn't the worst suggestion.

Agreed, the amount of times he failed to trap the simplest of balls which should have started an attack, did my head in. Central or nothing for me.

imagine how annoying it qwill be whe he does that in shooting positions, or if he robs Kosta of a clear shot.
He's been up front with kosta once this season and he was ineffective due to the lack of a long ball, the longest we tend to play is out wide to the halfway line.

imanixsupporter

More often than not a garbage touch from Piper on the right either lets an opponent in for a dangerous attack, or stops a dangerous attack of ours in its tracks. I can't stomach any more of that. Kosta is too isolated all the way up top by himself. I think it should be tried.  

Thing is its not just him who can have a bad touch but seems to be him thats  called on it all the time. Me i just love the mongrel  and not back down attitude he brings because without Rufer no body else does.

I thought Payne was a shout to be available, if so Payne at RB or Piper position.

Payne in a heart beat.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

I thought Payne was a shout to be available, if so Payne at RB or Piper position.

Keep Piper away from the defense I think is the loose consensus. 

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

I thought Payne was a shout to be available, if so Payne at RB or Piper position.

Matt Sheridan has been ruled out of Wellington Phoenix's next match with Macarthur due to concussion, leaving the team very short at right back. Tim Payne remains out. Reserve team captain Xuan Loke is a good chance to debut but he's just had three weeks off.

— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) January 18, 2025

lean days at the Nix 

martinb

lean days at the Nix 

Last season we barely had any injury issues. This season we barely have anyone fit. 

RR

martinb

lean days at the Nix 

Last season we barely had any injury issues. This season we barely have anyone fit. 

…or that we haven’t sent to Ireland. Sure van Hattum could’ve done a job there for a game. Or Mo Al-Taay, but those were compassionate/family issues. There’s two extra layers of depth and experience we had a couple of weeks ago…

Gives another verse to those Phoenix blues. 

Concussion is a nasty one. Hope Sheridan is okay. 

Well at least it is going to be a 7pm (local) kickoff tomorrow, and looks like the max temp in Sydney is going to be 26 degrees (i.e. not a total scorcher), so it may be cool enough to actually see an attempt by the Nix to play some football. Wouldn't that be something

We're now getting into barely worth watching territory, it's almost comical.
The core fans will go to the game and tune in of course, but the casuals will be dropping off and can't blame them.

martinb

RR

martinb

lean days at the Nix 

Last season we barely had any injury issues. This season we barely have anyone fit. 

…or that we haven’t sent to Ireland. Sure van Hattum could’ve done a job there for a game. Or Mo Al-Taay, but those were compassionate/family issues. There’s two extra layers of depth and experience we had a couple of weeks ago…

Gives another verse to those Phoenix blues. 

Concussion is a nasty one. Hope Sheridan is okay. 

It is what Sakai is away for at Auckland FC.  He copped a ball to the head a week ago and needs to follow the concussion recovery protocol; it would be the same for Sheridan I am sure.

InsulinMachine

We're now getting into barely worth watching territory, it's almost comical.
The core fans will go to the game and tune in of course, but the casuals will be dropping off and can't blame them.

This might be commercially sensitive information that the club won’t reveal, but I wonder how much of their revenue comes from casual ticket sales vs all the other sources.

Yep was about to say I was considering not watching, but I know I will anyway.

Just added it up, from the squad we had at the start of the season, al-Taay, OVH & Ball are gone, Colakovski, Rojas, Rufer, Payne & Sheridan won't be available tomorrow, and it may be that Sutton, Roa Conchie & LBS will be completely unavailable too. That's probably at least 9 but potentially 11 players.

RR

martinb

lean days at the Nix 

Last season we barely had any injury issues. This season we barely have anyone fit. 

We need reinforcements and we need them fast, we need a spark.

I thought AL clubs were allowed to sign Short Term replacements to cover players injured for 6 weeks or more? There must be something in the rulebook

If we replace Marco and Colakovski, plus sign another tenacious DM utility and another goal scorer…

…we’ll be just in time for the longest off season? 

Someone get us some good news please! Or at least the speculation of some possible good news…

At this rate Josh might have to take the field as an outfield player.  

This feels like the worse it's ever been with injuries.  

When did Sheridan get his concussion?

martinb

RR

martinb

lean days at the Nix 

Last season we barely had any injury issues. This season we barely have anyone fit. 

…or that we haven’t sent to Ireland. Sure van Hattum could’ve done a job there for a game. Or Mo Al-Taay, but those were compassionate/family issues. There’s two extra layers of depth and experience we had a couple of weeks ago…

Gives another verse to those Phoenix blues. 

Concussion is a nasty one. Hope Sheridan is okay. 

I missed when we shipped OvH to Ireland by force

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

When did Sheridan get his concussion?

Think that was the reason why Walker came on for him at half-time, heard Piney say it was a concussion substitution, all the best with his recovery.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

When did Sheridan get his concussion?

Last match. Got hit in a challenge early on. 

Then played on though? Did they not pick up the concussion initially ? 😕

Chief said they’re focusing on the 10, but also got a couple of Kiwi boys in mind, but they weren’t going to rush into anything. Isn’t that the point of an injury replacement?
 
Can’t complain about being short of players, if you’re not prepared to get someone in to cover them. 

Sounds like Sutton is good to go though 👍🎉😁 please carry us again Sam, if you can stand so can we…

martinb

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

When did Sheridan get his concussion?

Last match. Got hit in a challenge early on. 

Then played on though? Did they not pick up the concussion initially ? 😕

Chief said they’re focusing on the 10, but also got a couple of Kiwi boys in mind, but they weren’t going to rush into anything. Isn’t that the point of an injury replacement?
 
Can’t complain about being short of players, if you’re not prepared to get someone in to cover them. 

Sounds like Sutton is good to go though 👍🎉😁 please carry us again Sam, if you can stand so can we…

There's no point getting someone in who is potentially not even as good as a youth player anyway, it's slim pickings out there right now

valeo

martinb

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

When did Sheridan get his concussion?

Last match. Got hit in a challenge early on. 

Then played on though? Did they not pick up the concussion initially ? 😕

Chief said they’re focusing on the 10, but also got a couple of Kiwi boys in mind, but they weren’t going to rush into anything. Isn’t that the point of an injury replacement?
 
Can’t complain about being short of players, if you’re not prepared to get someone in to cover them. 

Sounds like Sutton is good to go though 👍🎉😁 please carry us again Sam, if you can stand so can we…

There's no point getting someone in who is potentially not even as good as a youth player anyway, it's slim pickings out there right now

 
In all of NZ and Aussie there’s no one? All this second league and other academies? 
Even if they’re on the bench to give us cover for when our team is concussed and kicked out of the game. Again we’ve been hella lucky on Kosta. 5-6 times just kicked in the heel or achilles. 

Eh…

Chiefy asked who was unavailable for this match and only mentioned Sheridan Payne and Rufer, can it be assumed then that Roa Conchie & LBS will be able to sit on the bench at least? Sutton confirmed to be starting. 

imanixsupporter

Chiefy asked who was unavailable for this match and only mentioned Sheridan Payne and Rufer, can it be assumed then that Roa Conchie & LBS will be able to sit on the bench at least? Sutton confirmed to be starting. 

 
Okay Conchie too!  Underdog victory on the way.

Based on Chiefy's comments (and the fact that he said he has at least tentatively decided a starting XI already), I'm thinking we are going to see this:

AKH
Piper Hughes Wootton LKH Sutton
Retre Nagasawa Walker
Kosta Ishige