WPM R21 vs Melbourne City | Fri 28th Feb | 7:30pm | RoF / Sky Sport 2

If would most likely then be a 2 legged semi final with one leg at the ROF, so it’s not as mad as you’d think.

Of course given where the Nix are now, they are very long odds to make the playoffs, let alone the semi final games

Imagine having 5 derby games in the first season.

That would be something for football in this country and the Nix going on a tear. 

Some stats ahead of the City game.

- We have won 1 (one) game in 2025
- We have won 1 (one) game at Sky Stadium this season
- We have 2 wins in our last 12 games
- In 13 of our 17 games we have failed to score more than once, and we only won one of those 13 games
- We have been kept scoreless more times (5) this season than occasions on which we scored 2 or more (4)

Smeltz4PM

InsulinMachine

Half a Pint

RR

Not sure what to say about this, I think we are well past the must win stage of things.

Yeah Finals are unlikely at this point - so maybe instead of a 'must win' it's more of a 'would be nice to win'

Not according to Chief. He thinks 6 or 7 wins will get us there. Not sure why we're aiming for play offs as we like to exit at the first hurdle anyway...

But all sarcasm aside, we now have several players back from injury and a good import. If we can't fire now, then it's on Chief and wouldn't inspire me with any confidence for next season.

He's desperate to make the top 6 if we're going to have any chance to play Auckland again and make it an unprecedented 0-4 season sweep

Semifinal is two legs so it can be 0-0-5 lol

imanixsupporter

Some stats ahead of the City game.

- We have won 1 (one) game in 2025
- We have won 1 (one) game at Sky Stadium this season
- We have 2 wins in our last 12 games
- In 13 of our 17 games we have failed to score more than once, and we only won one of those 13 games
- We have been kept scoreless more times (5) this season than occasions on which we scored 2 or more (4)

Thanks for those stats. Pretty sobering...

We are also on track for our worst offensive season in our history. 17 goals in 17 games. We've never hit sub 30 goals in a 27 game season before.

Other bad seasons:
25 goals in 21 games in 2007-08 (came last)
23 goals in 21 games in 2008-09 (came 6th/8)
31 goals in 27 games in 2012-13 (came last)

imanixsupporter

Some stats ahead of the City game.

- We have won 1 (one) game in 2025
- We have won 1 (one) game at Sky Stadium this season
- We have 2 wins in our last 12 games
- In 13 of our 17 games we have failed to score more than once, and we only won one of those 13 games
- We have been kept scoreless more times (5) this season than occasions on which we scored 2 or more (4)

All this points towards an upset happening, probably sooner rather than later. I predict a thumping win and a turnaround in form. I'd tell Piper to play up front for the first 20mins and go for every ball. See what mess he could make in the City defence.

Yeah I can see an upset, me being upset when we lose

LT01

We are also on track for our worst offensive season in our history. 17 goals in 17 games. We've never hit sub 30 goals in a 27 game season before.

Other bad seasons:
25 goals in 21 games in 2007-08 (came last)
23 goals in 21 games in 2008-09 (came 6th/8)
31 goals in 27 games in 2012-13 (came last)

Auckland are also on track for their worst offensive season (pun intended)

imanixsupporter

Some stats ahead of the City game.

- We have won 1 (one) game in 2025
- We have won 1 (one) game at Sky Stadium this season
- We have 2 wins in our last 12 games
- In 13 of our 17 games we have failed to score more than once, and we only won one of those 13 games
- We have been kept scoreless more times (5) this season than occasions on which we scored 2 or more (4)

Always a ray of sunshine you, huh? 
(:

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 12. Chico GERALDES, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 21. Marco ROJAS, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 19. Sam SUTTON (returning from suspension)

Outs: 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE (omitted)

Unavailable: 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES (injured)

Melbourne City squad: 2. Callum TALBOT, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 17. Max CAPUTO, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 23. Marco TILIO, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 41. Lawrence WONG, 46. Ben MAZZEO, 47. Kavian RAHMANI, 50. Mikey GHOSSAINI

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 46. Ben MAZZEO (both promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 6. Steven UGARKOVIC (hamstring), 8. Jimmy JEGGO (achilles), 10. Yonatan COHEN (knee), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (knee), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI (knee), 35. Medin MEMETI (international duty)

With Tim Danaskos as referee: 

WEL: 3 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses 
MCY: 4 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses

Roa Conchie not even in the squad? Hmm I don't get it.

Gonna go out on a limb and say this game is not hopeless for the Nix.
Defence has been solid bar one game (where the Auckland finishing was exceptional.)
And an attack with some mix of Kosta, LBS, Ishige, Chico, Nagasawa and Rojas looks pretty useful.
Get out there and do Auckland a favour!

To be fair, Auckland FC are on track for their worst season ever. That's got to be a positive.

Edit: was trying to quote a reply but it didn't work. Ignore me. I hope we win. Fudge this shark etc etc. 

I just want a break from Piper, Sheridan (unless Payne is out and he is RB) & LKH. Also don't want to see LBS, FRC or Walker start either. Piper is new to this level and getting used to it, hasn't been delivering like a regular A-League starter should. LKH seems to have regressed and isn't defensively convincing. Sheridan doesn't belong anywhere other than RB. LBS and Walker aren't ready yet, and FRC has only ever had one good game for the Nix, against Macarthur the other week.

But unfortunately Retre, Rufer, Chico & Payne are all under a fitness cloud and Rojas sounds like he is weeks away from starting games so we probably are going to see a few of the former list in the team. 

not surprised. He played well against Macarthur but that is the only game I've ever been impressed by him. Was unimpressive early in this season when he was getting games, was poor again the week after Macarthur against the Mariners and not good against Auckland either.  

Wibblebutt

Roa Conchie not even in the squad? Hmm I don't get it.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

LT01

We are also on track for our worst offensive season in our history. 17 goals in 17 games. We've never hit sub 30 goals in a 27 game season before.

Other bad seasons:
25 goals in 21 games in 2007-08 (came last)
23 goals in 21 games in 2008-09 (came 6th/8)
31 goals in 27 games in 2012-13 (came last)

Auckland are also on track for their worst offensive season (pun intended)

Aw since they're called the Knights can't we chuck that data in with them?

GAME DAY!!!!!

Don’t care about the score, not making the playoffs, just want to see us actually play some football tonight and finish on the winning side. Just something, anything of a response to last weekend’s disastrous derby and one of our worst losses ever.

Gonna be the first time I view a home game from the bar. normally that's reserved for away games so this feels kinda weird lol

🔥🔥Let's Goooooo🔥🔥

Need a good response tonight!

Hoping for a win, expecting a better overall performance form the team and coach. Really looking for some positive intent. Assuming Marco wont start but hoping he gets more minutes than 20 at the end, Chico looks solid, if he can open up some chances for Kosta and Ishige up front we could test their keeper more than we have recently.

I think this has 0-0 or 0-1 written all over it

I am quietly happy Nabbout and Ugarkovic are both out injured for today, even if Leckie plays a full game.  
It is also useful to see how their kids compare with our kids; my main concern is that I am not seeing the same levels of physical fitness from our younger players save except Corban Piper. Not sure if they are conditioned enough?

theprof

Hoping for a win, expecting a better overall performance form the team and coach. Really looking for some positive intent. Assuming Marco wont start but hoping he gets more minutes than 20 at the end, Chico looks solid, if he can open up some chances for Kosta and Ishige up front we could test their keeper more than we have recently.

Having Rufer able to start would also be a big boost. 

For perspective, City have 6 out injured. Unlike us, they have the squad and playing system to cope. 

For those looking to pre-load on excuses, we still have player budget inferiority and no doubt the ref and VAR are all set to be against us.

But seriously, I hope there's been a lot of self reflection in the phoenix camp this week and they hit the field with no excuses and with a positive mindset,  ready to play some good progressive football. 

IMO, they don't need to be overly attacking, just be willing to actually play football rather than being reactive in a low block and waiting for their 2 chances to appear.

It's going to be interesting to see what we deliver tonight. A big test for the lads and all eyes are on our coach, who is under pressure.

Reputations and ego will be dented after the 6-1 thrashing.

Think a bounce back victory is on the cards with the new import shining and scoring.

2-1 to the Nix. Kosta the other goal scorer.

I just want to see 90 mins of positive intent. No sitting and absorbing crap that sees us live off scraps.

I want some dog damn intent.

. replied to wrong person

Does Ishige have an injury?

RR

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Rufer! that is great news.

RR

Gk2YlJhWQAA2FO2.jpg 91.9 KB

Wish we could've had this team last week!

🔥🔥COYN🔥🔥

LT01

Does Ishige have an injury?

He's on the bench. Objectively though, Nagasawa and Ishige are better players than Sheridan and Walker (given their current development). Why aren't they starting? Surely you swap those two in and that's our strongest 11.

Would be a good lineup with our japanese players in for walker and Sheridan

djtim3000

LT01

Does Ishige have an injury?

He's on the bench. Objectively though, Nagasawa and Ishige are better players than Sheridan and Walker (given their current development). Why aren't they starting? Surely you swap those two in and that's our strongest 11.

 Both are also here until end of 2025-26 so it's not like they're leaving soon

djtim3000

LT01

Does Ishige have an injury?

He's on the bench. Objectively though, Nagasawa and Ishige are better players than Sheridan and Walker (given their current development). Why aren't they starting? Surely you swap those two in and that's our strongest 11.

 

Just give it a go and put some pride back in the shirt lads.

Season is pretty much done without victory here. 

Three imports on the bench, for a season defining game.

Hmmmmmmm,