It is funny that on one hand some praise the club for not buying a new set of shirts with sponsors logo to appease fans that want home games in home strip - yet - want the club to spend/lose money by giving away scarves, free tickets etc. We are (long standing) top of the league, if that doesn’t get people through the gate on that alone, you are throwing good money after bad.martinb
5 of the last 9 are home games?
I’d expect a big push in marketing from the club and perhaps a 3 game ticket deal for 3 of the last 4.
4 tickets and a scarf or …. deal or some such…
That game against Uffie’s Sydney is going to be huge!
As are the rest. A MacArthur rematch. The Victory. A resurgent Brisbane and Adelaide after we go to Perth the next one.
On the Macarthur goal while it was a super strike, under normal circumstances the cross might not of been made. Did you see Old pull up with cramp/hammy when you would expect normally that he would have made the tackle/block/interfere.
It is funny that on one hand some praise the club for not buying a new set of shirts with sponsors logo to appease fans that want home games in home strip - yet - want the club to spend/lose money by giving away scarves, free tickets etc. We are (long standing) top of the league, if that doesn’t get people through the gate on that alone, you are throwing good money after bad.martinb
5 of the last 9 are home games?
I’d expect a big push in marketing from the club and perhaps a 3 game ticket deal for 3 of the last 4.
4 tickets and a scarf or …. deal or some such…
That game against Uffie’s Sydney is going to be huge!
As are the rest. A MacArthur rematch. The Victory. A resurgent Brisbane and Adelaide after we go to Perth the next one.
Oppo might have requested the Black strip and not want to be on the yellow one, or vice versa with Spark. Or it could just be the logistics of managing four kits. The team would go through multiple kits per season, I doubt the fact that they alternate in black and yellow is down to cost.
One of the reasons we managed so well in the wet conditions might be that we fielded Fin, Finn, and Delfin all at the same time. "Life Aquatic" comes to mind.
Seriously though, even with a short appearance, I think Delfin (Salas) was more of a killer whale. His block alone prevented Davila from equalising in the dying minutes of the game. He has a point to prove and will work his ass off this season.
Smith was chatting to Kosta after the game, but I also spotted Zawada and Kurto having a lengthy yarn too. Kurto: "so, any chance for us to play for the same club next season?" Zawada: "nah, Paulsen already has a backup"
I really enjoyed watching all of the Nix imports today, they all played well: Kurto, Davila, Salas, Lewis, Ball, Zawada and El-Taay (Iraq) all have stunners.
As the commentators said, the Nix are great at finding foreign talent, possibly the best in the league.
I've watched Wootten play more then anyone else here and have many times said how poor a defender he's been across his career, but I've never seen him play like he's playing this season. Easily his best of his entire career. Well done.
I wonder how much influence Adam Griffiths has had on him and Surman?
I think Adam might actually be the Nix signing of the season. he's turned what is almost the exact same leaky defence from last season around to be the stingiest defence this one. Full Credit.
I've watched Wootten play more then anyone else here and have many times said how poor a defender he's been across his career, but I've never seen him play like he's playing this season. Easily his best of his entire career. Well done.
I wonder how much influence Adam Griffiths has had on him and Surman?
I think Adam might actually be the Nix signing of the season. he's turned what is almost the exact same leaky defence from last season around to be the stingiest defence this one. Full Credit.
It's not just Wootten. If I'm honest, I thought Payne and Kosta might have been past it at the start of the season, and only good enough for squad players, but both have been excellent. Rufer has also been as good or better than ever. Injuries withstanding, the team seems pretty fit which I think is another factor in how well we have been doing.
The way Ben Old is playing it is only a matter of time before one of the UK clubs come after him. I hope we have him on a good contract so he doesn't leave on a free.JasperNix
Huge performance, rather special.
The plan was bang on and executed brilliantly. Thought LKH and Finn C really stepped up and Ben Old looked like a player from another level. I must say the talent ID at the Nix is great.
This is one of the best wins I’ve seen from the buys
The way Ben Old is playing it is only a matter of time before one of the UK clubs come after him. I hope we have him on a good contract so he doesn't leave on a free.JasperNix
Huge performance, rather special.
The plan was bang on and executed brilliantly. Thought LKH and Finn C really stepped up and Ben Old looked like a player from another level. I must say the talent ID at the Nix is great.
This is one of the best wins I’ve seen from the buys
It's only a matter of weeks before Ben Old goes. His price tag has gone way beyond what the Nix can afford.
He's just such a classic example of why Chiefy is such good coach. Ben Old would never ever have achieved these levels under Talay.
I'll start the bidding. I reckon he'll go for 5,000,000 NZD
It was this game that finally convinced me that we are a Championship material. We had key personnel missing, but those who replaced them played to the game plan, did not panic, and performed well despite their relative inexperience (Hughes in particular). We had the same problem against Brisbane, but Macarthur is a better team than Brisbane (at least better than Brisbane was few weeks ago). I agree that Adam Griffiths might be our best signing.
The way Ben Old is playing it is only a matter of time before one of the UK clubs come after him. I hope we have him on a good contract so he doesn't leave on a free.JasperNix
Huge performance, rather special.
The plan was bang on and executed brilliantly. Thought LKH and Finn C really stepped up and Ben Old looked like a player from another level. I must say the talent ID at the Nix is great.
This is one of the best wins I’ve seen from the buys
It's only a matter of weeks before Ben Old goes. His price tag has gone way beyond what the Nix can afford.
He's just such a classic example of why Chiefy is such good coach. Ben Old would never ever have achieved these levels under Talay.
I'll start the bidding. I wrecken he'll go for 5,000,000 NZD
Not sure what Old's contract looks like or when it ends but he'd still be a big risk for any bigger club, IMO, not even close to the finished product, sure he's definately improving and rapidly so with the additional gametime. I'd expect to see him here for this season and maybe next, if he continues to perform as well as is has this year then the Nix will be responding to some requests. I'd guess he'd be leaving in Jan 25
The way Ben Old is playing it is only a matter of time before one of the UK clubs come after him. I hope we have him on a good contract so he doesn't leave on a free.JasperNix
Huge performance, rather special.
The plan was bang on and executed brilliantly. Thought LKH and Finn C really stepped up and Ben Old looked like a player from another level. I must say the talent ID at the Nix is great.
This is one of the best wins I’ve seen from the buys
It's only a matter of weeks before Ben Old goes. His price tag has gone way beyond what the Nix can afford.
He's just such a classic example of why Chiefy is such good coach. Ben Old would never ever have achieved these levels under Talay.
I'll start the bidding. I wrecken he'll go for 5,000,000 NZD
Not sure what Old's contract looks like or when it ends but he'd still be a big risk for any bigger club, IMO, not even close to the finished product, sure he's definately improving and rapidly so with the additional gametime. I'd expect to see him here for this season and maybe next, if he continues to perform as well as is has this year then the Nix will be responding to some requests. I'd guess he'd be leaving in Jan 25
My prediction is based on Brillante going to Fiorentina for €2,000,000 in 2014.
All my thoughts on the game have already been mentioned but can I just say - very impressed with this match thread!! Hardly a single negative comment on the team performance, even Fenix had very positive words?!! I think someone said they shed a tear watching how well we played...
I think this talks to the fact that the last few fans are starting to believe that we are the real deal this year. Of course anything can happen in sport but you'd be naive to say the Phoenix are not in the box seat to win the league now.
I won't go as far as Kungfu Panda and say we're definitely winning the league but at this point I'm certain we'll be top 4 (provided disaster doesn't strike). I'll see you all in Wellington for the finals lads! Up the NIX
".... Brillante going to Fiorentina for €2,000,000 in 2016 or 2017 after his season with league winning Sydney. " If we win the championship an offer might be made for Rufer rather than Old. I would go as far as to suggest that LKH would attract more attention than Old. Not because LKH is a "better" player (he is not) but because natural leftbacks are rare. Tall and fast young LB is even more rare.
".... Brillante going to Fiorentina for €2,000,000 in 2016 or 2017 after his season with league winning Sydney. " If we win the championship an offer might be made for Rufer rather than Old. I would go as far as to suggest that LKH would attract more attention than Old. Not because LKH is a "better" player (he is not) but because natural leftbacks are rare. Tall and fast young LB is even more rare.
I'm not saying that you're wrong but I'd be surprised if we kept any of them after we win the league.
And Old is younger and better than Brillante was. There'll be a bidding war for old at the end of this season.
Old may have more potential than Brillante but right now he's not even close to what Brillante was when he was purchased.
To be honest I didn't watch Brillante play in Australia before he went to Italy but I did watch him playing at Como a couple of times. He definitely struggled in Italy but he was in a Como team that was all about developing Nicolo Barella at the time. So he was left on the bench a lot.
Hoping the Mariners go far in the AFC Cup... constant midweek football and trips to India, Kyrgyzstan and the Middle East could severely hamper their Premiership chances
It is funny that on one hand some praise the club for not buying a new set of shirts with sponsors logo to appease fans that want home games in home strip - yet - want the club to spend/lose money by giving away scarves, free tickets etc. We are (long standing) top of the league, if that doesn’t get people through the gate on that alone, you are throwing good money after bad.martinb
5 of the last 9 are home games?
I’d expect a big push in marketing from the club and perhaps a 3 game ticket deal for 3 of the last 4.
4 tickets and a scarf or …. deal or some such…
That game against Uffie’s Sydney is going to be huge!
As are the rest. A MacArthur rematch. The Victory. A resurgent Brisbane and Adelaide after we go to Perth the next one.
If you look at the Waitangi game- a casual might come to just one or two of the last games depending on the weather etc etc. We went 12k attendance to 6k.
If someone buys one ticket they go to one football game. If someone has a scarf and four tickets m, they’re a new fan. They might even come to the zone, who knows?
I want to see all the remaining home games over 9K, with the goal of pushing 15k.
I mean, sure that’s a theory- do nothing and it’ll happen anyway.
I mean it’s why they do kids come free- someone has to bring them and then hopefully we’re making the next generation of fans too.
I really enjoyed watching all of the Nix imports today, they all played well: Kurto, Davila, Salas, Lewis, Ball, Zawada and El-Taay (Iraq) all have stunners.
As the commentators said, the Nix are great at finding foreign talent, possibly the best in the league.
Al-Taay was born in Campbelltown, Sydney. How does that make him an import player? Is Kosta a Greek import.
Wonder how bad Old's ankle is? It looks like he fudgeed it again, and with the articles recently about how bad it was and how they've been managing him, my guess is he will be out for 3-4 weeks
Hoping the Mariners go far in the AFC Cup... constant midweek football and trips to India, Kyrgyzstan and the Middle East could severely hamper their Premiership chances
Either them or Macarthur. They meet this week in a knock AFC Cup tie.
I really enjoyed watching all of the Nix imports today, they all played well: Kurto, Davila, Salas, Lewis, Ball, Zawada and El-Taay (Iraq) all have stunners.
As the commentators said, the Nix are great at finding foreign talent, possibly the best in the league.
Al-Taay was born in Campbelltown, Sydney. How does that make him an import player? Is Kosta a Greek import.
Well to be fair, Transfermarkt shows him only as an Iraqi citizen.
Wonder how bad Old's ankle is? It looks like he fudgeed it again, and with the articles recently about how bad it was and how they've been managing him, my guess is he will be out for 3-4 weeks
When was this? He just looked to have a spot of badly-timed cramp on the Macarthur goal (maybe a strain, but you'd think if that was the case, he would have gone straight down and off, not been back getting ready for kickoff).
The way Ben Old is playing it is only a matter of time before one of the UK clubs come after him. I hope we have him on a good contract so he doesn't leave on a free.JasperNix
Huge performance, rather special.
The plan was bang on and executed brilliantly. Thought LKH and Finn C really stepped up and Ben Old looked like a player from another level. I must say the talent ID at the Nix is great.
This is one of the best wins I’ve seen from the buys
It's only a matter of weeks before Ben Old goes. His price tag has gone way beyond what the Nix can afford.
He's just such a classic example of why Chiefy is such good coach. Ben Old would never ever have achieved these levels under Talay.
I'll start the bidding. I reckon he'll go for 5,000,000 NZD
Pretty sure Old signed a new contract earlier in the season so he isnt going anywhere unless we get some decent coin for him. You seem pretty keen on a number of our players leaving, dont have a problem with that but have doubts Domey is going to let anyone go unless some decent money is offered.
I thought there was mention last week the Old has barely been training due to his injury niggle which could certainly explain him looking like he was losing his legs towards the end.
Huge shift from LKH but can't help but shake my head when we have a free kick in an advanced position and not only is he not in the box but then we only use him as a decoy left-footer option to step over the ball. Bonkers.
Domey has made it clear the last 1-2 years, that the Nix yes will negoitate hard now when it comes to selling players & transfer fees. Prime example being Waine, and how they rejected Plymouth's first offer, negotiations dragging on for a few months.
But it would be naive to think Nix won't capitalise on this season's success, by selling 1-2 players (or more) in the off season if they can receive excellent transfer fees. With Covid, Welnix went through a couple of really tough financial years, so can't begrudge them cashing in, especially if at long last their investments are rewarded with a grand final win. Look at last season's grand finalists Melb City & CCM. They both sold about 5-6 players each in the last off season.
It's clearly a Phoenix model developing young players to sell, and why the club don't really look at signing Kiwis outside their Academy anymore. The solidarity payments are much higher if they sell a guy who started in the Academy as a 13 yr old. And yeah as CCM are proving this season it's possible with great recruiting, coaching & planning to rebuild your team and still be up there the next season.
From memory some of the youngsters like Paulsen & LVH are on long term contracts, so no rush for the Nix to sell them on. You'd think the transfer fee/SP will go up, as they log more quality ALM games, and their perceived value increases. All depends what sort of offers come in over the off season.
MacArthur fans really whipping themselves into a lather.
I mean it was a soft pen, but not a dive right?
I get kind of irritated when the team of Uzkok, Germain and Jurman accuses others of cheating.
Man, MacArthur and WSW are playing some good football, but are becoming more and more dislikable as organizations. And I thought it’d be hard to top Risdon from last week…
Domey has made it clear the last 1-2 years, that the Nix yes will negoitate hard now when it comes to selling players & transfer fees. Prime example being Waine, and how they rejected Plymouth's first offer, negotiations dragging on for a few months.
But it would be naive to think Nix won't capitalise on this season's success, by not selling 1-2 players (or more) in the off season if they can receive excellent transfer fees. With Covid, Welnix went through a couple of really tough financial years, so can't begrudge them cashing in, especially if at long last their investments are rewarded with a grand final win. Look at last season's grand finalists Melb City & CCM. They both sold about 5-6 players each in the last off season.
It's clearly a Phoenix model developing young players to sell, and why the club don't really look at signing Kiwis outside their Academy anymore. The solidarity payments are much higher if they sell a guy who started in the Academy as a 13 yr old. And yeah as CCM are proving this season it's possible with great recruiting, coaching & planning to rebuild your team and still be up there the next season.
From memory some of the youngsters like Paulsen & LVH are on long term contracts, so no rush for the Nix to sell them on. You'd think the transfer fee/SP will go up, as they log more quality ALM games, and their perceived value increases. All depends what sort of offers come in over the off season.
Be interesting if the Phoenix look to sign partnerships with overseas clubs with Perth, Auckland, Melbourne City, and Victory all in multi-club conglomerates.
MacArthur fans really whipping themselves into a lather.
I mean it was a soft pen, but not a dive right?
I get kind of irritated when the team of Uzkok, Germain and Jurman accuses others of cheating.
Man, MacArthur and WSW are playing some good football, but are becoming more and more dislikable as organizations. And I thought it’d be hard to top Risdon from last week…
There was one angle they showed on the coverage early on where you see definitive contact.
Then they realised it helped our case, and stopped showing it.
MacArthur fans really whipping themselves into a lather.
I mean it was a soft pen, but not a dive right?
I get kind of irritated when the team of Uzkok, Germain and Jurman accuses others of cheating.
Man, MacArthur and WSW are playing some good football, but are becoming more and more dislikable as organizations. And I thought it’d be hard to top Risdon from last week…
MacArthur fans really whipping themselves into a lather.
I mean it was a soft pen, but not a dive right?
I get kind of irritated when the team of Uzkok, Germain and Jurman accuses others of cheating.
Man, MacArthur and WSW are playing some good football, but are becoming more and more dislikable as organizations. And I thought it’d be hard to top Risdon from last week…
When have WSW ever been likeable?
Wanderers, Victory and Sydney are the holy trinity of cod football teams. This is the only correct take
On Hughes's performance, another fairly incredible shift. Not only throwing his body around with some bloody good timing but also bringing the ball out a few times when there was no passing option. I wonder if could develop into an all action DM, in a similar model of Devlin. Not sure he has the height or size to play at the back but maybe a push forward into an anchor/disruptor type role might suit him well. Seems mobile enough and reads the game well. Not that I think we will see him there this season with the current midfield stock.
On Hughes's performance, another fairly incredible shift. Not only throwing his body around with some bloody good timing but also bringing the ball out a few times when there was no passing option. I wonder if could develop into an all action DM, in a similar model of Devlin. Not sure he has the height or size to play at the back but maybe a push forward into an anchor/disruptor type role might suit him well. Seems mobile enough and reads the game well. Not that I think we will see him there this season with the current midfield stock.
It is early days yet for Hughes, but I recall seeing the same confidence on debut from Fin Surman. Hughes certainly seems to have what it takes if he performed this well under pressure against good opposition, especially that Rufer and Pennington were not on the park.
I really enjoyed watching all of the Nix imports today, they all played well: Kurto, Davila, Salas, Lewis, Ball, Zawada and El-Taay (Iraq) all have stunners.
As the commentators said, the Nix are great at finding foreign talent, possibly the best in the league.
Al-Taay was born in Campbelltown, Sydney. How does that make him an import player? Is Kosta a Greek import.
Well aware of that just pointing out his ancestry and how important he's becoming for us as one of only 2 Aussie starters.
