WPM R20 vs Auckland | Sat 22nd Feb | 5pm | FeverTua to Mt Smart

Why do people keep saying we won't have 3 derbies if Canberra joins? (which at this rate they probably never will but that's a whole other discussion). Playing 13 teams h&a is only 26 games, even unite round only makes it 27. That's less rounds than what we're playing this season.

If the goal is to get everyone playing more games then would they get rid playing other teams 3x a season? especially when there's so much money involved from derbies. Between the Melbourne, Sydney and NZ derbies the smallest game was 20,093 between city and vic at the start of the season.

Ik this is a side tangent but it's just weird to me that people keep assuming we'll do away with the extra games once (if) Canberra arrives

Marco in the squad is surely just playing games with Corica. Surely.

I presume you have made the mistake of assuming each team plays 29 games this season??!

There are 29 Rounds, but each team only plays 26 games + 3 byes.

The Nix for example are playing 10 teams twice, and Auckland plus the Victory (incl Unite Round) thrice. Total 26 games.

coochiee

Is the ground rental at the ROF substantially lower than Eden Park?

I remember a few years back the Eden Park Trust CEO Saunter, saying they were offering attractive terms to lure events to EP.

The Nix should definitely get to host 2 of the 3 derbies, if there is 3 next season. But yeah the Phoenix taking a 'home' derby to ChCh if they can sneak one into the late season schedule April/May 2026, might be an attractive financial proposition.

3rd derby in Chch, please YES!!

Although don't think they'll do it as they'll get a good crowd here anyway. So best to play both derbies at the Tin.

IMHO Rogerson is less of a threat than the wingers that skinned LKH earlier in the season. Expect Nagasawa and less so Ishige to be giving extra cover. Ishige helps out a lot in defence, good attitude.

martinb

coochiee

nixin

Hoping to see this at some point.
AKH
Payne Hughes Wootton LKH
Rufer Chico  Nagasawa
LBS Kosta Ishige

Rogerson, Brimmer & Sakai are definitely going to target LKH.

Yeh I wonder if we might see Sheridan or… at LB for this reason. It seems madness not to trust LKH at LB and then drop him in it against the top of the table. 

Perhaps even Loke if he’s ready? Recall he played well a long time ago in the Australia Cup.

If we can only attack down one side, we’ll be too predictable. 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360589606/wellington-phoenix-star-marco-rojas-set-shock-return-auckland-fc-ready-war-new-zealand-derby

“He’s done really well over the last two weeks,” Italiano said of Rojas. “There was a bit of aggravation in the ankle, but that hasn't flared up, so he's given us the confidence that he's ready to play.”

“I'm not going to reveal the game plan, but I'd like him to be part of the game tomorrow at some stage,” Italiano added, signalling that he would begin on the bench.

“It really depends on how the game pans out. If we need a goal or we need some creativeness, I probably can rely for him a little bit longer than what I would have planned.”

A return to a back three to start and the gradual introduction of Rufer, Rojas and Geraldes, not to mention promising young attackers Luke Brooke-Smith and Nathan Walker, might be the approach that gives them the best chance of stopping Auckland’s quest for a derby clean sweep.

After winning 2-0 at Sky Stadium in the capital in round three in November, then winning 2-1 at home in December, Auckland can make it three wins from three in the first season to feature a New Zealand derby.

theprof

coochiee

If no Canberra, then surely is again yes 3 derby games. But they could take the 3rd one to ChCh. New downtown stadium to finish April next year. ALM regular season to finish around early May

They would sell out the ground if they could make it work. Lots of traveling fans to check out NZ’s latest sparkly exciting new stadium 

I'm ok with the third derby going to another region, even splitting the revenue/costs 50/50.
Hopefully it's only an issue for this and next season.

New Plymouth is basically halfway!!

I wonder how long it will take MacArthur or Western United to take a home game against AFC to a place like Hamilton. Reckon it would up their crowd from 3-5k to 20k.

NRL teams have done it before so could happen. 

We have sunk to 11th with Jets winning the first game of this round. We can't really afford to lose this one. A win takes us up to 9th, it'd be psychologically massive. I'm expecting a 0-0 or 1-1 which I'd be pretty happy with, particularly if we get to see Rojas & Geraldes and both look sharp, even if it would leave us in 11th. 

And it’s game day.

Best case, we pull off a famous upset. Worst case, we show the Port we can still make some noise and remind them we’ll be back next season.

COYN!

AucklandPhoenix

I wonder how long it will take MacArthur or Western United to take a home game against AFC to a place like Hamilton. Reckon it would up their crowd from 3-5k to 20k.

NRL teams have done it before so could happen. 

... I don't see the point when that crowd would be 19,500 AFC supporters. Surely take it to a place where they might have a few fans?

🔥🔥Fire Up🔥🔥

I have confidence that we can get something from today - I have no basis for my confidence - but I have confidence all the same!

🔥🔥COYN🔥🔥

Ummmm, dollars, survival?

Anyway we both know next season the team will be better and AFC will be preety much unbeatable anyway 😂

No injuries either team and a high scoring draw 3-3 would be my wish.

Weather fantastic - amped to attend this. Looks like it’s going to be 27k

Anyone know what is the designated away bay ??

BrockieTheGOAT

Anyone know what is the designated away bay ??

1 and 2

Hate to be like this, but aside from having Rufer available for more minutes, seeing Geraldes for the first time, and potentially a cameo from surprise returnee Marco, I’m not feeling hopeful or excited about today, inevitable Auckland Pride/Perfect FC win incoming. 

Fudge both the Port and AFC fans in general, treat us like shark and are unbearable to listen to.

Noah4thenix

Why do people keep saying we won't have 3 derbies if Canberra joins? (which at this rate they probably never will but that's a whole other discussion). Playing 13 teams h&a is only 26 games, even unite round only makes it 27. That's less rounds than what we're playing this season.

If the goal is to get everyone playing more games then would they get rid playing other teams 3x a season? especially when there's so much money involved from derbies. Between the Melbourne, Sydney and NZ derbies the smallest game was 20,093 between city and vic at the start of the season.

Ik this is a side tangent but it's just weird to me that people keep assuming we'll do away with the extra games once (if) Canberra arrives

The APL has said they ideally want a 26 game season (this was from before the Unite Round was a thing however). When we hit 14 teams, that is only a Home & Away season. 

Game day! A shame I can't find any other nix fans in dunners but that ain't gonna stop me from celebrating when we win 3-0! (delusion is good for the soul)

Noah4thenix

Game day! A shame I can't find any other nix fans in dunners but that ain't gonna stop me from celebrating when we win 3-0! (delusion is good for the soul)

Optimism, yay! Payney to score the winner.

Missing the game due to a wedding, fire up nix! Let’s fudgeing set the record straight! COYN

Will probably only watch the first half. We’re gonna get thumped.

In terms of tactics- Auckland are vulnerable early and grow into games.  Therefore Chiefy cannot start with a 7 defenders like he did last week.  They need to press hard and early with quick ball speed for 60 mins then rely on what is a good defence (brain fades notwithstanding).

If Chiefy starts with Piper and Sheridan then Auckland will win. Id bring  them on at 60 mins and start with Walker and Chico etc. 

I don't understand what people see in Walker. For me he is easily the least impressive of our youngsters. I don't want to see him anywhere near the pitch today

nufc_nz

Will probably only watch the first half. We’re gonna get thumped.

Turning the game off once Perfect FC inevitably score the first goal cause I know what it will lead to.

HattyCW

Hate to be like this, but aside from having Rufer available for more minutes, seeing Geraldes for the first time, and potentially a cameo from surprise returnee Marco, I’m not feeling hopeful or excited about today, inevitable Auckland Pride/Perfect FC win incoming. 

Fudge both the Port and AFC fans in general, treat us like shark and are unbearable to listen to.

really?  It's just a few bad eggs I would have thought?

Walking around Auckland this morning in my Nix gear - I was surprised at how many people were shouting words of encouragement out of cars, saying good luck and giving me fist bumps! Kinda forget that a lot of people living in Auckland have moved here for work etc and probably like the rest of us still enjoy seeing Auckland teams lose when pitted against other NZ teams. A nice surprise compared to what I was expecting

Come on lads, lets see some fight this arvo!

We're basically at a point where it's now or never in terms of the season. Time to break the shackles and leave it all out on the pitch. 

COYN! 🔥🔥

Aucklanders have had 18 years of supporting the Nix before they had the choice of FC! 

🔥🔥🔥Fire Up

He's fast and can beat his man. Works hard. Needs to work on what to do after he's broken clear, ie shoot, pass or dribble. It's way too soon to write him off IMO.

imanixsupporter

I don't understand what people see in Walker. For me he is easily the least impressive of our youngsters. I don't want to see him anywhere near the pitch today

Half a Pint

Walking around Auckland this morning in my Nix gear - I was surprised at how many people were shouting words of encouragement out of cars, saying good luck and giving me fist bumps! Kinda forget that a lot of people living in Auckland have moved here for work etc and probably like the rest of us still enjoy seeing Auckland teams lose when pitted against other NZ teams. A nice surprise compared to what I was expecting

I’m sitting next to some AFC fans here at Right Track and yeah they’re a good bunch. There might be a few dickheads in the Port but most of us just want to enjoy the game whatever colours we wear.

Of course I still hope we beat them.

I love all your optimism!
Fire up!

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Chico starts with rufer and rojas on the bench. most interesting

Edit: confusingly worded.
What's happened to retre?

5 at the back with conchie, Chico and piper in midfield?
And where is Retre?

Smeltz4PM

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Chico starts with rufer and rojas on the bench. most interesting

Edit: confusingly worded.
What's happened to retre?

Please give our attack a spark Geraldes!

I hope that spanish dude is some kind of a-league messi and we just rip the greasy fudgeers apart

I am so stoked Chico is starting, didn't think the we had the balls to start him based on the Chief and player interviews saying he's only fit enough for a cameo. Ideally he plays 70-80 mins and Rojas comes on for him so we always have a 10 on the pitch.

Sadly seems like 5 at the back with Piper and Conchie in the middle who should play more defensive (at least they are physical players). Having Chico though means we have somebody who can set up Barb and Ishige for counter attacks if we can get the ball to him so it's hopefully not going to be fully negative football.

Probably will park the bus and counter attack until at least half-time and then ideally put on Rufer (probably Nagasawa too) and go 4-3-3 to try and get a result late. Would prefer to start the game swinging to catch them off guard, but playing counter attack first half to likely tire/frustrate them and then snatch a win later in the game with subs is probably the smarter way of getting a result compared to trying to go toe-to-toe with them at this stage.

My brain is saying 1-1/2-2 draw if we don't get thrashed, but because Chico is starting and because I watch football for the magic not the logic I predicted a 2-0 victory with Barb counter attack goal just before half-time and Rojas/Chico goal at around 70-85 mins after Auckland overcommit going forward and/or their defence get exposed. It will be a good game with everybody up for it, but a defensive slog where Auckland can't take their chances early and loose their heads after the counter attack goal before they can get into their stride and we hold on to spoil the party for them.

Jayden Smith (17 yr old CB) has been on the bench for months. He's not there, so yes I think that's a sign will be going 4-3-3 sometime 2nd half. It's actually quite an attacking subs bench. Hopefully Nix can makea contest of it.

Our Starting XI for Derby Day ⚔️ #AKLvWEL pic.twitter.com/qdTlBwdu8u

— Auckland FC (@fc_auckland) February 22, 2025

coochiee

Jayden Smith (17 yr old CB) has been on the bench for months. He's not there, so yes I think that's a sign will be going 4-3-3 sometime 2nd half. It's actually quite an attacking subs bench. Hopefully Nix can makea contest of it.

Our Starting XI for Derby Day ⚔️ #AKLvWEL pic.twitter.com/qdTlBwdu8u

— Auckland FC (@fc_auckland) February 22, 2025

 what a weird high-school-yearbook-photo way to announce your lineups...