WPM R23 vs Western United | Sat 9th April | 4:05pm | SS7

Old on for Piscopo. Well done that lad.

Get ball and Sandoval off! Don’t want any last minute injuries 

You know I almost think Uffie enjoys making the defense do this! Remember TAHW doing a similar thing late in a game. Winning header after header to hold a match.

Boys looking tired now but got to tough it out for the last 10.

Surely there are some league minimal requirements this public park doesn’t meet 

Good win! But suspect 1st 20min could have cost us.

Mission accomplished. God that feels good.

This is without doubt the most bizarre Nix season ever.

Great effort from the lads, finals football is back on the map!

The most assured and confident in himself I've ever seen Callan Elliot. Didn't know he had it in him. Can't say I've ever rated him previously but he definitely took Uffie's words to heart about the young guys needing to make a go of it when it counts.

You can't cover 5 missing starters from a squad full of (pretty good) ex academy players. But you can cover three. 

Excellent result. Great job 'Nix. 

The short turnaround to a midweek game is a bit of a worry. Lucky it is Perth and not another game against MC right away. Hope Sotirio and Piscopo can return and that nobody got injured today against WU.

Did anybody else notice the commentators didn't seem to realize there'd been a formation switch to 3/5 at the back??  They kept talking about Payne being left back, rather than the left of three centre backs.  I thought the switch was the most significantly different formation move Talay has made, and they didn't even reference it.

Mainland FC

The short turnaround to a midweek game is a bit of a worry. Lucky it is Perth and not another game against MC right away. Hope Sotirio and Piscopo can return and that nobody got injured today against WU.

Trip to Perth not ideal but the good news is that Glory will have a day less recovery time than us after their way trip to the Jets. Mariners have a midweek game too before coming across the ditch which should ensure both teams are at a similar level of total exhaustion next Sunday.

Surprising score line but boy did they fight for it. Backs to the wall stuff for the second but that fourth was great. I’m guessing sotirio won’t be signing an extension with us? Shame as he definitely has his uses, despite obvious frustrations. Took both his goals really well. Lots of big performances tonight. Thanks nix, please see off Perth too! Would be great to try and get as many folk to the stadium next weekend 

Outpost

Mainland FC

The short turnaround to a midweek game is a bit of a worry. Lucky it is Perth and not another game against MC right away. Hope Sotirio and Piscopo can return and that nobody got injured today against WU.

Trip to Perth not ideal but the good news is that Glory will have a day less recovery time than us after their way trip to the Jets. Mariners have a midweek game too before coming across the ditch which should ensure both teams are at a similar level of total exhaustion next Sunday.

 Perth match is in Sydney

andrewvoerman

Outpost

Mainland FC

The short turnaround to a midweek game is a bit of a worry. Lucky it is Perth and not another game against MC right away. Hope Sotirio and Piscopo can return and that nobody got injured today against WU.

Trip to Perth not ideal but the good news is that Glory will have a day less recovery time than us after their way trip to the Jets. Mariners have a midweek game too before coming across the ditch which should ensure both teams are at a similar level of total exhaustion next Sunday.

 Perth match is in Sydney

OK thanks, that's good for us.

WanderingSheep

Surprising score line but boy did they fight for it. Backs to the wall stuff for the second but that fourth was great. I’m guessing sotirio won’t be signing an extension with us? Shame as he definitely has his uses, despite obvious frustrations. Took both his goals really well. Lots of big performances tonight. Thanks nix, please see off Perth too! Would be great to try and get as many folk to the stadium next weekend 

I know Sotirio's contract is up at seasons end, but I would actually love for him to stay, is there any word or speculation about signing on or potential movements? This is his most prolific goal scoring season in the ALM and there's still 6 games left, he could realistically get to double figures! I hope we can lock him in, but time will tell I guess.

WanderingSheep

Surprising score line but boy did they fight for it. Backs to the wall stuff for the second but that fourth was great. I’m guessing sotirio won’t be signing an extension with us? Shame as he definitely has his uses, despite obvious frustrations. Took both his goals really well. Lots of big performances tonight. Thanks nix, please see off Perth too! Would be great to try and get as many folk to the stadium next weekend 

Is Jaushy a one trick pony? I, for one, would have booted him way earlier but once again bow to Uffies far superior knowledge. Hopefully Jaush sees the sense in remaining with Uffie and the Nix. 

rua_taniwha

WanderingSheep

Surprising score line but boy did they fight for it. Backs to the wall stuff for the second but that fourth was great. I’m guessing sotirio won’t be signing an extension with us? Shame as he definitely has his uses, despite obvious frustrations. Took both his goals really well. Lots of big performances tonight. Thanks nix, please see off Perth too! Would be great to try and get as many folk to the stadium next weekend 

Is Jaushy a one trick pony? I, for one, would have booted him way earlier but once again bow to Uffies far superior knowledge. Hopefully Jaush sees the sense in remaining with Uffie and the Nix. 

He does need the right creative element around him to make him effective. Players like Reno and Gael and even Bally have the vision which allows him to get in behind defences with his lightning pace. 

I hope he stays with us for another season at least. He's scored more in 60 odd games for us than he ever put in the back of the net in his 90 with WSW. Uffie has certainly got the best out of him and with 6 goals and a few assists so far this season, I feel we're seeing him evolve and grow as a player. 

rua_taniwha

WanderingSheep

Surprising score line but boy did they fight for it. Backs to the wall stuff for the second but that fourth was great. I’m guessing sotirio won’t be signing an extension with us? Shame as he definitely has his uses, despite obvious frustrations. Took both his goals really well. Lots of big performances tonight. Thanks nix, please see off Perth too! Would be great to try and get as many folk to the stadium next weekend 

Is Jaushy a one trick pony? I, for one, would have booted him way earlier but once again bow to Uffies far superior knowledge. Hopefully Jaush sees the sense in remaining with Uffie and the Nix. 

Underrated by many, the only player who has any sort of pace + finish and a really important piece of our attack. Can be frustrating, but what A-League player isn't?

Would be a big loss if he goes at the end of this season at this point. He's really come a long way under Uffie.

Outpost

This is without doubt the most bizarre Nix season ever.

Great effort from the lads, finals football is back on the map!

I love how opposition fans are super confused by the results but it's pretty clear - when we have injuries, we're bad, when we mostly have our First 11 we can compete with any team in the league.

It's insane that we can still compete considering all of the bad luck though. Lewis and Rufer were huge losses. Just shows how good a coach Uffie is - he made a few really smart changes this game. (Payne LB, Sutton filling in for him when he goes forward, Gael more central etc)

YoungHeart

WanderingSheep

Surprising score line but boy did they fight for it. Backs to the wall stuff for the second but that fourth was great. I’m guessing sotirio won’t be signing an extension with us? Shame as he definitely has his uses, despite obvious frustrations. Took both his goals really well. Lots of big performances tonight. Thanks nix, please see off Perth too! Would be great to try and get as many folk to the stadium next weekend 

I know Sotirio's contract is up at seasons end, but I would actually love for him to stay, is there any word or speculation about signing on or potential movements? This is his most prolific goal scoring season in the ALM and there's still 6 games left, he could realistically get to double figures! I hope we can lock him in, but time will tell I guess.

 
Should be making him an offer. He’s been great for us, and is settled with team and coach. He’s kept Hooper out at times. You feel from the way he plays if we do right by him, he could do the same. 

I've always seen Sotirio as basically a B-grade Krishna

It’s also helped sotirio that this year we have been a counter attacking team. previously we’ve tried to dominate possession and used uli and Reno to pick holes in defences for hooper to finish. 
Now we can’t/don’t do that and our game plan doesn’t suit hooper but is perfect for Jaush. 

Also, uffie says the contract talks with sotirio are ongoing. 

martinb

Glad Sotirio didn’t show for PNG- with the way they defended and the player he’s become for us they might have snuck a result against the AWs!

New Caledonia

WanderingSheep

Surprising score line but boy did they fight for it. Backs to the wall stuff for the second but that fourth was great. I’m guessing sotirio won’t be signing an extension with us? Shame as he definitely has his uses, despite obvious frustrations. Took both his goals really well. Lots of big performances tonight. Thanks nix, please see off Perth too! Would be great to try and get as many folk to the stadium next weekend 

I see Sotiro staying more than Piscopo. Talay is getting the best out of Jaushy this season, and I reckon he knows that and would try to stay with Uffie wherever he's coaching

Antz

Did anybody else notice the commentators didn't seem to realize there'd been a formation switch to 3/5 at the back??  They kept talking about Payne being left back, rather than the left of three centre backs.  I thought the switch was the most significantly different formation move Talay has made, and they didn't even reference it.

Great win. Personally I gave them no chance, esp when Talay was mentioning Fenton/Elliott as possible AM options, and Sandoval dropping back into a DM role.

No mention of Piscopo & Sotiro both starting or a formation switch. Sure fooled me & perhaps John Aloisi as well.

Tactical masterclass & bluff exercise by Uffie.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/128252900/wellington-phoenix-bounce-back-from-big-losses-with-41-win-away-at-western-united

Interview with Uffie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9gt06Vx7As

So Proud of the boys. After every set back they come back strongly. 

Also, I just wanted to say, what a ball from Sandoval for jaushy’s first. May have been touched on earlier in the thread, but that’s what we needed from him.

Rock Hopper

The most assured and confident in himself I've ever seen Callan Elliot. Didn't know he had it in him. Can't say I've ever rated him previously but he definitely took Uffie's words to heart about the young guys needing to make a go of it when it counts.

 Talay has shown again and again that he is able to get things out of players that many  fans have called to be discarded. Bloody glad its him making the decisions thought he explained things really well in his post match interview. It should be viewed by some of those who seem to constantly batter some players.

coochiee

martinb

Glad Sotirio didn’t show for PNG- with the way they defended and the player he’s become for us they might have snuck a result against the AWs!

New Caledonia

Ahh! Coulda rattled some Oceania cages for sure. Not sure how the standard compared to the FFA cup- but Jaushy bossed a lot of that. 

aitkenmike

Is anyone else's sound out of sync and delayed from the pictures?

I've been having this issue on A-League games all season on Sky Sport Now.

Antz

Did anybody else notice the commentators didn't seem to realize there'd been a formation switch to 3/5 at the back??  They kept talking about Payne being left back, rather than the left of three centre backs.  I thought the switch was the most significantly different formation move Talay has made, and they didn't even reference it.

Most games are commentated remotely from Sydney nowadays. So obvious stuff like that gets missed far to much.

Outpost

Pennington has to make his passes stick. Three times he's turned the ball over already and none of them especially difficult passes for an A League level mid.

Admittedly I struggle to judge DM's from TV coverage, a lot of their work happens off screen. But I'm really on the fence with Pennington, he does some tidy work & then turns it over cheaply deep in our half. 

Combine that with Sandoval, who turns the ball over a lot as well. It makes for the weird central midfield combo we have had in ages. With this result, I assume we see it continue for the next few games.

RR

aitkenmike

Is anyone else's sound out of sync and delayed from the pictures?

I've been having this issue on A-League games all season on Sky Sport Now.

 Yeah, I sometimes get in on Spark when casting, but it usually sorts itself if I restart the stream, but was watching this from the sky box, so it threw me.

I agree that Piscopo is less likely to stay on than Sotirio, but it is always hard to tell who gets an offer just when they need a change.  Sotirio had been at WSW for what, six years? Yet he was (if I recall correctly) the very first player Talay signed when he took over the reins from Rudan.  While the fact that Sotirio stayed on beyond the initial one year contract is probably due to the fact that it was not a bad first year for him here, he gets on with Talay and others. I also think that other clubs already have someone like him on their books, while for us he clearly is a key team player and not just a squaddie (whether "one trick pony" or not).

Sotorio might want to go overseas... do a Ruka (I can't spell his name but the Perth player who went to Israel and scored a bucket load).

Based on form this year, he will be in demand.

Big change in mood from a few days ago!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/128323222/wellington-phoenix-closing-in-on-return-home-after-spiritboosting-win-over-western-united