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

Even pre injuries we didn’t have the depth to change games, let alone cover injuries. 

Chiefy should've known from pre season the next batch of kids aren’t ready. We’ve since seen LBS is highly capable yet he’s only really been given a chance now the season is over. 

He should’ve known Kelly-Heald was ready to start in goal, we’ve got such a good track record and not needed to sign the import and DEFINITELY not have re-signed in that valuable import slot so early. After 2 games?!

imanixsupporter

Part of me wonders if Chiefy is starting Walker and Sheridan instead of our boys from the East so he can use it as an excuse if we don't win. Makes no sense. 

Totally agree, that loss is totally on Chiefy, tactically stubborn, broguht on the attacking intent with 9 minutes to play, no way they were gonna make an impact.

I realise he's managing LBS minuts, but that kid has to start ahead of Walker.
In a 4-2-3-1 shape, we line up with 5 defenders, back 4, and then Sheridan in the midfield. I'll concede that Piper is a utility player and does well on the win.

image.png 27.14 KB

Nagasawa has to be a better option that Sheridan, Ishige or LBS for Walker. I'd even be ok for Retre to start if Sheridan and Walker werent in the mix.

theprof

imanixsupporter

Part of me wonders if Chiefy is starting Walker and Sheridan instead of our boys from the East so he can use it as an excuse if we don't win. Makes no sense. 

Totally agree, that loss is totally on Chiefy, tactically stubborn, broguht on the attacking intent with 9 minutes to play, no way they were gonna make an impact.

I realise he's managing LBS minuts, but that kid has to start ahead of Walker.
In a 4-2-3-1 shape, we line up with 5 defenders, back 4, and then Sheridan in the midfield. I'll concede that Piper is a utility player and does well on the win.

image.png 27.14 KB

Nagasawa has to be a better option that Sheridan, Ishige or LBS for Walker. I'd even be ok for Retre to start if Sheridan and Walker werent in the mix.

I think Retre wasn’t really ready to come back. He was far off the pace. 

I think the younger boys might be in because they’ve got something in the tank to press?

Maybe it’s a gamble that their pressing will be more important than other qualities. 

So best case is 

  Alby and back line
      Rufer Nagasawa
Marco   Chico   Ishige 
           Kosta
?
With Brooke-Smith off the bench. And…
That said Nagasawa has been better further forward, but maybe can be better with Rufer instead of Retre.

I think Kosta is off his best form too. Yes, understand all the context. Hopefully he’ll get it back. 

mykey

Even pre injuries we didn’t have the depth to change games, let alone cover injuries. 

Chiefy should've known from pre season the next batch of kids aren’t ready. We’ve since seen LBS is highly capable yet he’s only really been given a chance now the season is over. 

He should’ve known Kelly-Heald was ready to start in goal, we’ve got such a good track record and not needed to sign the import and DEFINITELY not have re-signed in that valuable import slot so early. After 2 games?!

Chief has messed up in so many ways this season. Poor signings, odd decisions, baffling comments, empty promises and spare me the constant waffling on about why the game plan didn't work today because "this player wasn't available and that player had to play there and this and that..." 

He's put a crap squad together, probably confusing the players with stupid tactics and loosing their confidence in the process. No way back from here no matter how you twist and turn it.

I feel like some people are starting to defend the indefensible here with Chiefy. The team he had out yesterday included the 3 imports he brought in for overseas to be on the bench and he played Nathan Walker who offers very little, and the worst part is the goal we conceded was a goal he was clearly angry about involving one player he himself brought in and other is a senior player.. So to me its one of two things, the players don’t know how they’re supposed to play in this current system or the players we have are not good enough to play the desired system which means the recruitment is not good enough. Every time we don’t win, its “ah just one moment of poor concentration or it was just an innocent play that we didn’t deal with well”.. which is an admission that the system lends itself to these poor mistakes. Whether we like it or not, Auckland coming in and doing so good means there is more exposure on the Nix, there is more pressure & in previous years where poor results happen, the club could hide away from it in some way, now there will always be comparison to Auckland. The next 7 weeks or so is probably the most important for the club since probably the nix out campaign, the next decisions they make needs to be taken very seriously an remove any emotion or biased in the decision making because while stability off the field has been achieved, the on field results need to be improved, because whether we like it or not, Auckland will quickly become the number one team in this country, and the club will struggle for it. 

Chief had the wholenoff season to build a squad, remembering our season is short. Time to find the right players, the right system etc.

Our style of play is the worst in the league, shark I'd rather be a Perth supporter right now.

Whats worse is how many young football fans are moving to Aucks because of our dross.

Chief has all the answers- just to none of the questions really worth answering.

Chief out. His fault for not signing an extension when he had the chance.

Really? You'd prefer to be a Glory fan?

image.png 16.48 KB

41 goals conceeded compared to 26. Goals scored? 12. Goal difference of -29. Yet they are still better than Roar! - although Roar have 3 games to play so a possible 9 points to gain which still has them behind us.

Chiefy has run out of ideas.  Low-block counter-attacking football and hoping for the best football, that's all we'll get as long as Chiefy remains the coach.

We need to ask ourselves if we want to see the same thing next season.

Despite having most of our senior and import players available, being out-possessed 40-60 and outshot 5-19 at home speaks volumes. There are no more excuses. Not good enough is simply not good enough.

We aren't at the end of the season yet but at this point if you look at the table it does seem like the league has split along a fault line of haves and have-nots. So you've got all your big Sydney/Melb clubs who have bags of money and can easily get round the drastically reduced salary cap, while the smaller regional city clubs that don't have the same financial resources appear to have been hit harder (Adelaide being the obvious exception).

The smaller clubs have been forced to plug the gaps in their squad on the cheap, meaning more young, inexperienced players in the starting lineup plus a bunch of pretty humdrum imports, a lot of whom have simply fallen by the wayside. Sound familiar? I'm not offering this as an excuse as to why the Nix have done so poorly but I think there is a lot more context here than simply saying "Chiefy is rubbish". Mark Jackson at CCM definitely isn't rubbish and they are floundering almost as badly as the Nix.

Safire

Chiefy has run out of ideas.  Low-block counter-attacking football and hoping for the best football, that's all we'll get as long as Chiefy remains the coach.

We need to ask ourselves if we want to see the same thing next season.

Despite having most of our senior and import players available, being out-possessed 40-60 and outshot 5-19 at home speaks volumes. There are no more excuses. Not good enough is simply not good enough.

Likelyhood is that Chief gets a 1 yr extension, would have been longer if he was doing ok this year. Question is what players does he bring in the off season to strengthen the squad. Colacovski has to go - assuming he's not contracted through next season, need to get Nagasawa and Ishige working better.

Difference is that CCM have won the league 2 seasons in a row with mostly home grown players and smart recruits, and Adelaide are always up there every few years… This nix squad isn’t exactly as “cheap” as people make it to be.. Nagasawa, Ishige, Rojas all have high A League pedigree… just being poorly utilised 

Outpost

We aren't at the end of the season yet but at this point if you look at the table it does seem like the league has split along a fault line of haves and have-nots. So you've got all your big Sydney/Melb clubs who have bags of money and can easily get round the drastically reduced salary cap, while the smaller regional city clubs that don't have the same financial resources appear to have been hit harder (Adelaide being the obvious exception).

The smaller clubs have been forced to plug the gaps in their squad on the cheap, meaning more young, inexperienced players in the starting lineup plus a bunch of pretty humdrum imports, a lot of whom have simply fallen by the wayside. Sound familiar? I'm not offering this as an excuse as to why the Nix have done so poorly but I think there is a lot more context here than simply saying "Chiefy is rubbish". Mark Jackson at CCM definitely isn't rubbish and they are floundering almost as badly as the Nix.

Did Chiefy explain why we played at home, in a league with no relegation, desperately needing a win, and we mustered NO shots?

theprof

Really? You'd prefer to be a Glory fan?

image.png 16.48 KB

41 goals conceeded compared to 26. Goals scored? 12. Goal difference of -29. Yet they are still better than Roar! - although Roar have 3 games to play so a possible 9 points to gain which still has them behind us.

Perth is a club in turmoil - players coming and going... but at least they play to win and with intent.

I wouldn't want theirs or ours position in the table - but I'll take their give it a decent nudge over, 4 shots (on of off target) in 90min average that we serve up.

We are sharke currently. That's the truth of it, and the blame lies with Chief (who on a personal level I quite like). His team, his visa signings, his releases of players and his game plan.

I saw Dome after the whistle with a dejected face, looking at the pitch, the teams abyss.

It's not even the losses, it's the dire football we play with no shots that relies on pure luck that the opposition won't score with 300 shots and we will score with one shot (or no shots). We got lucky last year because chief inherited a strong squad from Talay. I can't watch another year or this football.

Interesting evening.

Someone wearing his Auckland FC shirt got some stick. Oops.

Security very quick to take down that banner making a 'demand' of Italiano.


This morning.

The sun still came up.

The exact quote from Chiefy is "I don't think they really had a clear chance to be fair in that first half".

The 3 minute highlights package on the Nix's YouTube shows 3 clear City chances in the first half (and none for us, of course). Chiefy is either trying to spin this, or really believes, that City weren't actually threatening up until they scored (which to be far was something of a gift). 

The interesting thing about Chiefy this season is he has showed zero self-reflection. It is not even a question in his mind that the process or tactical plan is the problem. You never hear him talking about trying something different or anything like that if you listen to all his interviews. It's all injuries and bad luck. 

Do not forget Chiefy is superstitious.  At this point i wonder if he thinks it would be bad luck if we just tried to energetically pass the ball forward more often, instead of trying to lure the opposition closer to our goalmouth and giving me a heart attack when I watch this.
We played relatively better towards the last 15 minutes, but we still leisurely passed the ball to each other and Alby near our goal line losing time in the process.  

dairyflat

Interesting evening.

Someone wearing his Auckland FC shirt got some stick. Oops.

Security very quick to take down that banner making a 'demand' of Italiano.


This morning.

The sun still came up.

Why did security take the banner down?

Buffon II

dairyflat

Interesting evening.

Someone wearing his Auckland FC shirt got some stick. Oops.

Security very quick to take down that banner making a 'demand' of Italiano.


This morning.

The sun still came up.

Why did security take the banner down?

No sure at all. The security we spoke to seemed a bit unsure or guarded and didn't answer the question. 

Buffon II

dairyflat

Interesting evening.

Someone wearing his Auckland FC shirt got some stick. Oops.

Security very quick to take down that banner making a 'demand' of Italiano.


This morning.

The sun still came up.

Why did security take the banner down?

 And what did the banner say?

InsulinMachine

Buffon II

dairyflat

Interesting evening.

Someone wearing his Auckland FC shirt got some stick. Oops.

Security very quick to take down that banner making a 'demand' of Italiano.


This morning.

The sun still came up.

Why did security take the banner down?

 And what did the banner say?

Italiano out.

Jesus

Dome putting the muscle out there to stop his name being in the banner?

If that guy is still sucking on the tit next derby game, I’ll make one for him

imanixsupporter

The exact quote from Chiefy is "I don't think they really had a clear chance to be fair in that first half".

The 3 minute highlights package on the Nix's YouTube shows 3 clear City chances in the first half (and none for us, of course). Chiefy is either trying to spin this, or really believes, that City weren't actually threatening up until they scored (which to be far was something of a gift). 

The interesting thing about Chiefy this season is he has showed zero self-reflection. It is not even a question in his mind that the process or tactical plan is the problem. You never hear him talking about trying something different or anything like that if you listen to all his interviews. It's all injuries and bad luck. 

This is a concern if the coach can’t see them missing sitters.

What was going on with the folk waving the flags for the field entrance line? Looked like it was a random group who had just arrived from their work drinks? Happy to be corrected if it was some special group and we were told but I missed it 

Is it possible to do polls on the forum... let's ask the question, who wants Chiefy to stay or go.

Let's do it before STUFF does.

dairyflat

Buffon II

dairyflat

Interesting evening.

Someone wearing his Auckland FC shirt got some stick. Oops.

Security very quick to take down that banner making a 'demand' of Italiano.


This morning.

The sun still came up.

Why did security take the banner down?

No sure at all. The security we spoke to seemed a bit unsure or guarded and didn't answer the question. 

I could see the guards pointing back up the stand as they talked to the guys holding the banner, I wonder if the reason they gave (truthfully or not) was that it would block people’s view? This was all pre-game though.

Mainland FC

Do not forget Chiefy is superstitious.  At this point i wonder if he thinks it would be bad luck if we just tried to energetically pass the ball forward more often, instead of trying to lure the opposition closer to our goalmouth and giving me a heart attack when I watch this.
We played relatively better towards the last 15 minutes, but we still leisurely passed the ball to each other and Alby near our goal line losing time in the process.  

Look at the lead up to the goal. We get a throw in 10 metres in the opposition half and what does Sutton do? He throws the ball back about 25metres then it is played across the field only to be intercepted, and a goal eventuates. 
For goodness sake, we make it into the opposition half albeit for a throw in and we yet again are negative and go back.

Needs more passing backwards. 
Plan A: When we get up near the opposition Goal box, we should play it back to our Goalkeeper who in turn can then hoof a long hopeful long ball for a 5'6' lone Striker facing 2 or 3 6'4" defenders. 

Plan B is to just play with the ball along or across our back line and put our own Goalkeeper involved by playing triangles with him whilst 10 opposition players close it down and then the long hopeful ball for Kosta.

imanixsupporter

The exact quote from Chiefy is "I don't think they really had a clear chance to be fair in that first half".

The 3 minute highlights package on the Nix's YouTube shows 3 clear City chances in the first half (and none for us, of course). Chiefy is either trying to spin this, or really believes, that City weren't actually threatening up until they scored (which to be far was something of a gift). 

The interesting thing about Chiefy this season is he has showed zero self-reflection. It is not even a question in his mind that the process or tactical plan is the problem. You never hear him talking about trying something different or anything like that if you listen to all his interviews. It's all injuries and bad luck. 

 

Also have to laugh at him trying to convince fans and media that we can win 7 of our last 9 games, when we’ve only won 2 in the last 12. 
But not then changing any tactics or even playing our strongest line up. 

whatever

Mainland FC

Do not forget Chiefy is superstitious.  At this point i wonder if he thinks it would be bad luck if we just tried to energetically pass the ball forward more often, instead of trying to lure the opposition closer to our goalmouth and giving me a heart attack when I watch this.
We played relatively better towards the last 15 minutes, but we still leisurely passed the ball to each other and Alby near our goal line losing time in the process.  

Look at the lead up to the goal. We get a throw in 10 metres in the opposition half and what does Sutton do? He throws the ball back about 25metres then it is played across the field only to be intercepted, and a goal eventuates. 
For goodness sake, we make it into the opposition half albeit for a throw in and we yet again are negative and go back.

I hate this sort of analysis. It's like the people complaining about playing out from back instead of just hoofing it forward line of thought. 

Bullion

whatever

Mainland FC

Do not forget Chiefy is superstitious.  At this point i wonder if he thinks it would be bad luck if we just tried to energetically pass the ball forward more often, instead of trying to lure the opposition closer to our goalmouth and giving me a heart attack when I watch this.
We played relatively better towards the last 15 minutes, but we still leisurely passed the ball to each other and Alby near our goal line losing time in the process.  

Look at the lead up to the goal. We get a throw in 10 metres in the opposition half and what does Sutton do? He throws the ball back about 25metres then it is played across the field only to be intercepted, and a goal eventuates. 
For goodness sake, we make it into the opposition half albeit for a throw in and we yet again are negative and go back.

I hate this sort of analysis. It's like the people complaining about playing out from back instead of just hoofing it forward line of thought. 

Well, if you analyse the game, until the last 15 minutes what we got was mainly going back. There is no right or wrong way to play the game, problem with us is that we keep playing the same way and keep losing. Some variation would help.

You hate that form of ‘analysis’ . Well I hate the idea that the best way of ALWAYS playing is to play out from the back. Its bleedin’ obvious that this is not working for the Phoenix! They are creating bugger all chances; they are frequently getting caught out doing it; and its unbelievably boring!!

And Chiefy’s mantra that it is best to create a couple of ‘quality’ chances rather than roll the dice - take more chances with shots from distance; get the ball in the box to feed off ‘second phase’ ball and deflections is just errant nonsense given the players he has at his disposal. Time for the owners and senior management at the club to have a quiet word. He needs to read the room. Watching Hughes and Wooton passing the ball sideways to each other time and time again, even in added time when the team is facing a loss, is crazy.
And none of the above implies a crude hoofball strategy - just more variety.

Bullion

whatever

Mainland FC

Do not forget Chiefy is superstitious.  At this point i wonder if he thinks it would be bad luck if we just tried to energetically pass the ball forward more often, instead of trying to lure the opposition closer to our goalmouth and giving me a heart attack when I watch this.
We played relatively better towards the last 15 minutes, but we still leisurely passed the ball to each other and Alby near our goal line losing time in the process.  

Look at the lead up to the goal. We get a throw in 10 metres in the opposition half and what does Sutton do? He throws the ball back about 25metres then it is played across the field only to be intercepted, and a goal eventuates. 
For goodness sake, we make it into the opposition half albeit for a throw in and we yet again are negative and go back.

I hate this sort of analysis. It's like the people complaining about playing out from back instead of just hoofing it forward line of thought. 

Alf Tupper is spot on with his comments.
Predictability is useless.
Pursuing a tactic that isn't working during a game is useless. 
There is more than one approach to playing football.
You don't score with passes in your own area, or own half. Half the games time is wasted going nowhere.  

And this game is supposed to be entertainment - if noone wants to watch, then it's all over.

Yes . . . and while I do not support Chiefy getting dumped, i do believe that his constant claim that he is not going to change his approach is seriously ill-advised

. . . unless he is attempting to fool opposing coaches

. . . which the evidence suggests he isnt!!!

Fenix

Alf Tupper is spot on with his comments.
Predictability is useless.
Pursuing a tactic that isn't working during a game is useless. 
There is more than one approach to playing football.
You don't score with passes in your own area, or own half. Half the games time is wasted going nowhere.  

And this game is supposed to be entertainment - if noone wants to watch, then it's all over.

Something that seemed more obvious as well was their goal keeper came a way more forward than we did at times.

That meant that when they were playing out of the back they were starting that from half way, whereas we start from the box.

I'm definitely not in the Chiefy out camp, but come on Chiefy, try something different.

Bananas

Something that seemed more obvious as well was their goal keeper came a way more forward than we did at times.

That meant that when they were playing out of the back they were starting that from half way, whereas we start from the box.

I'm definitely not in the Chiefy out camp, but come on Chiefy, try something different.

I’m definitely on Italiano out camp. I hoped for change but looks he out of ideas and something is wrong with the team spirit. In the presser he talks about individual errors and the youth and next season, maybe that’s his sales pitch. Fact is. We are second best in NZ und far away from a playoff spot, and it’s bad for the Nix brand. The club should move on, it’s not personal. 

I dont think he's out of ideas, he cleearly thinkins about the game and how it should be played. BUT, he is stuck on this idea (whatever it is) and refuses to change.
I imagine his idea of how the game should look is not what he is seeing on the pitch, his animation on the sidelines would suggest it's not, however what we are seeing is not working. Playing out from the back is nothing new, but with is disrupted by a high press and requires confidence and movement from the players in front of the back 4/5. The backwards throwins is also fine, as long as the back four are higher up the pitch and have options to look for - we currently don't.

it's not working, which is frustrating, what's worse is the coach telling us he has a dream isnt gonna change.

Also frustrating because the very same thing happens in the Premier League, pundits mention it regularly. Teams that are not good enough to play out from the back are constantly punished by the better teams who can press successfully, force errors and score. We are near the bottom of the league and look to be only team that persists with this.

Alf Tupper

You hate that form of ‘analysis’ . Well I hate the idea that the best way of ALWAYS playing is to play out from the back. Its bleedin’ obvious that this is not working for the Phoenix! They are creating bugger all chances; they are frequently getting caught out doing it; and its unbelievably boring!!

And Chiefy’s mantra that it is best to create a couple of ‘quality’ chances rather than roll the dice - take more chances with shots from distance; get the ball in the box to feed off ‘second phase’ ball and deflections is just errant nonsense given the players he has at his disposal. Time for the owners and senior management at the club to have a quiet word. He needs to read the room. Watching Hughes and Wooton passing the ball sideways to each other time and time again, even in added time when the team is facing a loss, is crazy.
And none of the above implies a crude hoofball strategy - just more variety.

Bullion

whatever

Mainland FC

Do not forget Chiefy is superstitious.  At this point i wonder if he thinks it would be bad luck if we just tried to energetically pass the ball forward more often, instead of trying to lure the opposition closer to our goalmouth and giving me a heart attack when I watch this.
We played relatively better towards the last 15 minutes, but we still leisurely passed the ball to each other and Alby near our goal line losing time in the process.  

Look at the lead up to the goal. We get a throw in 10 metres in the opposition half and what does Sutton do? He throws the ball back about 25metres then it is played across the field only to be intercepted, and a goal eventuates. 
For goodness sake, we make it into the opposition half albeit for a throw in and we yet again are negative and go back.

I hate this sort of analysis. It's like the people complaining about playing out from back instead of just hoofing it forward line of thought. 

Italiano had a fantastic last season and a sharke this season.  So I want him to have at least one more crack at it as unless there is someone amazing in the line of sight I think the revolving coach will do more harm than good.