Wellington Phoenix Men

WPM R2 vs Brisbane Roar | Sun 26th Oct | 3:00pm | RoF / SS2 | Kids Go Free

359 replies · 12,627 views
5 months ago
Agree, start Piper. Our second highest goalscorer last season and already made a big impact with 2 assists in 30 minutes. 
5 months ago
Mainland FC
Steph1000
How do you think the powers that be will feel about this number? Could be 1 or 2k too  low considering the nice weather (windy but ya know). What do you think? 
Oi Oi Edgecumbe
I see on BBC Football the attendance was 6890. Oops I see this has already been noted.

Well, middle of the long weekend means you can't get out from town. Hopefully many watched outside Welly.

I wonder how much the trains not running also affected the numbers - having the choice of paying outrageous Sky Stadium parking or standing around freezing because the buses are full isn’t exactly motivating.

Speaking of freezing weather I see on RNZ that the Roar’s flight home has been delayed until tomorrow, and that Qantas claims passengers are on their own finding accommodation if the disruption is outside the airline’s control. How cool would it be if the Phoenix reached out and put them up at NZCIS for the night?
5 months ago
hepatitis
Good to see 3 of the Nix in team of the week

IMG_7934.png 2.73 MB
Kelly-Heald, really? 
5 months ago
Simon B
Mainland FC
Steph1000
How do you think the powers that be will feel about this number? Could be 1 or 2k too  low considering the nice weather (windy but ya know). What do you think? 
Oi Oi Edgecumbe
I see on BBC Football the attendance was 6890. Oops I see this has already been noted.

Well, middle of the long weekend means you can't get out from town. Hopefully many watched outside Welly.

I wonder how much the trains not running also affected the numbers - having the choice of paying outrageous Sky Stadium parking or standing around freezing because the buses are full isn’t exactly motivating.

Speaking of freezing weather I see on RNZ that the Roar’s flight home has been delayed until tomorrow, and that Qantas claims passengers are on their own finding accommodation if the disruption is outside the airline’s control. How cool would it be if the Phoenix reached out and put them up at NZCIS for the night?

Roar probably happy to be in Welly
38 degrees in Brissy today!!
And it’s still October
5 months ago
Ninja
hepatitis
Good to see 3 of the Nix in team of the week

IMG_7934.png 2.73 MB
Kelly-Heald, really? 
Think it says more about some of the continual criticism from some about some of our players. Seems they are appreciated more by others at times.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

5 months ago
Ninja
hepatitis
Good to see 3 of the Nix in team of the week

IMG_7934.png 2.73 MB
Kelly-Heald, really? 
 I think that he was very good, solid defensively and had some lovely passes to break out down the left. He's not perfect, but the criticism of him often seems way overblown. 
5 months ago
He looks a bit gangly and looks deceive. I would have him in my team any day of the week. Would love to see him develop into a rugged CB though
5 months ago
MetalLegNZ
Armiento offers a body on the pitch but not much else.

that aged well......he's scored two in two games, both decent shots.

Queenslander 3x a year.

5 months ago
hepatitis
Good to see 3 of the Nix in team of the week

IMG_7934.png 2.73 MB
 A-League really needs to work on the scaling of their images. The Nix guys look like boys amongst men here, especially Nagasawa!
5 months ago
dunnix
hepatitis
Good to see 3 of the Nix in team of the week

IMG_7934.png 2.73 MB
 A-League really needs to work on the scaling of their images. The Nix guys look like boys amongst men here, especially Nagasawa!

Gotta change the angle to fit LKH in.

Valley FC til I die?

5 months ago
Piper must've been close, despite being a sub.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

5 months ago
Oi Oi Edgecumbe
Piper must've been close, despite being a sub.

They couldn't scale him down sufficiently 
5 months ago
ballane
Ninja
hepatitis
Good to see 3 of the Nix in team of the week

IMG_7934.png 2.73 MB
Kelly-Heald, really? 
Think it says more about some of the continual criticism from some about some of our players. Seems they are appreciated more by others at times.

Not criticism, just surprised.
5 months ago · edited 5 months ago · History
Ninja
Agree, start Piper. Our second highest goalscorer last season and already made a big impact with 2 assists in 30 minutes. 

Not wanting to make it into a big deal or anything, but the calls here to start Piper (and/or LBS) take into account only what they brought to our team when they subbed on, but ignore the other party (the opposition). Italiano waited for Roar to bring the subs on.
Two less-experienced players in our team at the start is not exactly what I would consider best approach.  They are both very useful, and potential game-winners at a pinch, but they are not the mature readers of the game that you need in the first 20 minutes with the opposition at its strongest.
Who will you bring on to replace them once they tire?  The team that already got steamrolled in the first 20 minutes of both the Perth and Brisbane games?

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

5 months ago
dunnix
hepatitis
Good to see 3 of the Nix in team of the week

IMG_7934.png 2.73 MB
 A-League really needs to work on the scaling of their images. The Nix guys look like boys amongst men here, especially Nagasawa!

Honey I Shrunk The Nix
5 months ago
Mainland FC
Ninja
Agree, start Piper. Our second highest goalscorer last season and already made a big impact with 2 assists in 30 minutes. 

Not wanting to make it into a big deal or anything, but the calls here to start Piper (and/or LBS) take into account only what they brought to our team when they subbed on, but ignore the other party (the opposition). Italiano waited for Roar to bring the subs on.
Two less-experienced players in our team at the start is not exactly what I would consider best approach.  They are both very useful, and potential game-winners at a pinch, but they are not the mature readers of the game that you need in the first 20 minutes with the opposition at its strongest.
Who will you bring on to replace them once they tire?  The team that already got steamrolled in the first 20 minutes of both the Perth and Brisbane games?
100% agreed


a.haak

5 months ago
Can anyone tell me if Lukas Kelly-Heald has had a yellow card/red card since playing for us.  I feel he has a calm presence about him and some of our players could learn take a bit of that with them and vice versa. 
5 months ago
2 yellows in 47 appearances
5 months ago
Procrastinixing
Can anyone tell me if Lukas Kelly-Heald has had a yellow card/red card since playing for us.  I feel he has a calm presence about him and some of our players could learn take a bit of that with them and vice versa. 
 He's had one yellow each season according to FBRef
5 months ago
That's pretty good. Thanks guys
5 months ago
valeo
Mainland FC
Ninja
Agree, start Piper. Our second highest goalscorer last season and already made a big impact with 2 assists in 30 minutes. 

Not wanting to make it into a big deal or anything, but the calls here to start Piper (and/or LBS) take into account only what they brought to our team when they subbed on, but ignore the other party (the opposition). Italiano waited for Roar to bring the subs on.
Two less-experienced players in our team at the start is not exactly what I would consider best approach.  They are both very useful, and potential game-winners at a pinch, but they are not the mature readers of the game that you need in the first 20 minutes with the opposition at its strongest.
Who will you bring on to replace them once they tire?  The team that already got steamrolled in the first 20 minutes of both the Perth and Brisbane games?
100% agreed


when our other AMs, Najjarine and Mileusnic, are unavailable and its a choice between Roa Conchie or LBS, its a close call.
5 months ago · edited 5 months ago · History
So this got me interested: 
- Yellow cards:
LKH has as many yellows in two seasons as Cosgrove got in two games for A-FC;
- Market value: 
LKH - (age 20) - 289K euro as per Soccerway; Cosgrove (age 28) - 340K euro as per Soccerway;
- Goals:
LKH is a proven goalscorer for the Nix (OK, OK, so it was just the one in the Cup...);
... while Cosgrove is yet to show he is a goalmouth threat rather than a threat to the opponents' ankles and knees.

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

5 months ago
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind seeing LKH getting half a dozen yellow cards in a season.

He has the physique to be an absolute beast but is as timid as a lamb.

If one player like Rufer can take him under his arm this season and touch him that and a coach can try to make him dominate in the air then he could really go places.



Auckland will rise once more

5 months ago
AucklandPhoenix
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind seeing LKH getting half a dozen yellow cards in a season.

He has the physique to be an absolute beast but is as timid as a lamb.

If one player like Rufer can take him under his arm this season and touch him that and a coach can try to make him dominate in the air then he could really go places.



Well, maybe this can come with age, not everyone has a mongrel in at 20.
Might be even more important for Alby, since a goalkeeper must definitely have a confident presence. Again, age will help.

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

5 months ago
Mainland FC
Ninja
Agree, start Piper. Our second highest goalscorer last season and already made a big impact with 2 assists in 30 minutes. 

Not wanting to make it into a big deal or anything, but the calls here to start Piper (and/or LBS) take into account only what they brought to our team when they subbed on, but ignore the other party (the opposition). Italiano waited for Roar to bring the subs on.
Two less-experienced players in our team at the start is not exactly what I would consider best approach.  They are both very useful, and potential game-winners at a pinch, but they are not the mature readers of the game that you need in the first 20 minutes with the opposition at its strongest.
Who will you bring on to replace them once they tire?  The team that already got steamrolled in the first 20 minutes of both the Perth and Brisbane games?
100% agree. Some players are also better suited for coming on off the bench. I think the idea that you must start your best player in every position is pretty antiquated, especially with the amount of subs allowed these days you can guarantee players gametime off the bench much easier and allow them to take advantage of more tired opponents.

And for the record, many past graduates of the Nix have started that way too - Surman, Singh, Waine all come to mind as players who made an impact off the bench aplenty.
5 months ago
AucklandPhoenix
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind seeing LKH getting half a dozen yellow cards in a season.

He has the physique to be an absolute beast but is as timid as a lamb.

If one player like Rufer can take him under his arm this season and touch him that and a coach can try to make him dominate in the air then he could really go places.


With any luck Rufer touching him will make him get some mongrel. 😁

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

5 months ago · edited 5 months ago · History
Hmmm, well both Piper and LBS are young and fit. Should be good for 90 mins. If required, I'd replace them with the players who would otherwise have started, and they can bring their skillsets to bear against a tiring opposition. Lucky them.
Had they Piper and LBS started, perhaps the Nix wouldn't have been steamrolled in the first 20. 
As for starting your best players being antiquated, a later comment, well call me old fashioned then! But this is key to good results.  IMHO.
Mainland FC
Ninja
Agree, start Piper. Our second highest goalscorer last season and already made a big impact with 2 assists in 30 minutes. 

Not wanting to make it into a big deal or anything, but the calls here to start Piper (and/or LBS) take into account only what they brought to our team when they subbed on, but ignore the other party (the opposition). Italiano waited for Roar to bring the subs on.
Two less-experienced players in our team at the start is not exactly what I would consider best approach.  They are both very useful, and potential game-winners at a pinch, but they are not the mature readers of the game that you need in the first 20 minutes with the opposition at its strongest.
Who will you bring on to replace them once they tire?  The team that already got steamrolled in the first 20 minutes of both the Perth and Brisbane games?
5 months ago · edited 5 months ago · History
Can understand the agruments to start Piper. Through sheer force of will he made a big impact.

LBS far less so. He's hugely promising, but his influence is still a bit minimal. His reading of the game situation a big workon. Better to sit on the pine and get a ringside seat to Chiefy barking out game management instructions sideline. A pimped up whiteboard session. Then 20 mins off the bench, with all that power and youth energy.
5 months ago
This is the starting 11 I'd like to see, based on current form and Italiano's formation (best I can tell!)
            Oluwayemi
      James  Hughes  LKH
                     Rufer
Loke                                         Armiento
            LBS Nagasawa Piper
                        Eze

Hughes is fast, so central CB to cover through balls.
Skillful players clustered on the right (Loke, LBS, Nagasawa, Eze) to try and set up some moves. Power on the left.
But probably Italiano will play James at CCB because he is senior. LBS won't start for now. Piper for Conchie is possible.

5 months ago
It would be hard to leave out Sheridan

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

5 months ago
I wonder if Chief will look to start with a 3-5-2, with Piper up top next to Eze, at some point. It would help Eze get into the game more by having a big body near him for flick on and lay offs, while retaining most of the structure Chief has been working on. Also, works if we go for Mata
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological. 
5 months ago
Have not seen any signs, unfortunately, that we would be considering Mata.

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

5 months ago
Much prefer drawing and winning late with the players Chief has on the field,than risk losing   because we have decided to change things around.
Why not wait till things arnt working than risk messing something up thats showing some promise.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

5 months ago
Sheridan at RB surely once hughes is ready to start
5 months ago
Just curious what position does is his name Dan Edwards(?) play? Or is he injured or something?
5 months ago
brookem
Just curious what position does is his name Dan Edwards(?) play? Or is he injured or something?
LB/LWB. He is cover for Armiento not panning out in the LWB role.
5 months ago
RR
brookem
Just curious what position does is his name Dan Edwards(?) play? Or is he injured or something?
LB/LWB. He is cover for Armiento not panning out in the LWB role.

could be a long ride on the pine for him

Queenslander 3x a year.

5 months ago
Thank you! 
RR
brookem
Just curious what position does is his name Dan Edwards(?) play? Or is he injured or something?
LB/LWB. He is cover for Armiento not panning out in the LWB role.