did i hear 8,320 attendance?
WPM R24 vs Brisbane Roar | Sun 16th April | 3:00pm | Eden Park / Morningside Tavern
Whoever gets the top job next season, I hope they seriously strengthen our backline and work on our defensive structure, because we suck at the art of defending...
Peak Sasse ffs
head like a biscuit tin
Aghhh How could he miss?!!!
NB: alcohol impeded contract offer for Yan Sasse of 3 years is not valid…
Oh sweet baby jesus.
At least get it on target! Missed it by about 5 metres on a free header 😵
At least get it on target! Missed it by about 5 metres on a free header 😵
Cracking game tbf but very disappointing.
Sasse- what a game! Might be goal
of the season. And tbf hard to blame him for the fact that we can no longer defend corners…
But hesus kristofferson…
Well it was entertaining and I’ve finished all the beer in the fridge!
of the season. And tbf hard to blame him for the fact that we can no longer defend corners…
But hesus kristofferson…
Well it was entertaining and I’ve finished all the beer in the fridge!
Once again, ad nauseum I don't know how we didn't win that one.
FFS! So many chances to put this game away.
Zawada can only score one a a game, Sutton can strike it like a rocket but straight at the keeper. Sasse, so shark at times and yet can pull out some moments of gold! Ball has to have had the unluckiest 30 seconds of his career!
Could easily have been 5-1.
But 2-2 is kinda the story of our seasn, promised so much just couldnt put it in the bag and tie it up.
In all honestly I'm now ok with Lewis leaving, he is easily the most promising player we have right now and yet he has yet to show how good he can be - I bet he'll show us next season. Kosta can just fudge off, he too has promised so much in his 3 stints with us and yet given nothing. Payne should never see RB ever again, he is well past it. I think he was responisbile for both their goals, first one he hangs off the attacker and forces Sasse to make an attempted tackle leading to the pen, second comes off him from the corner.
The point doesnt hurt our chances of finals footy but it kills our chances of a home semi I think.
Zawada can only score one a a game, Sutton can strike it like a rocket but straight at the keeper. Sasse, so shark at times and yet can pull out some moments of gold! Ball has to have had the unluckiest 30 seconds of his career!
Could easily have been 5-1.
But 2-2 is kinda the story of our seasn, promised so much just couldnt put it in the bag and tie it up.
In all honestly I'm now ok with Lewis leaving, he is easily the most promising player we have right now and yet he has yet to show how good he can be - I bet he'll show us next season. Kosta can just fudge off, he too has promised so much in his 3 stints with us and yet given nothing. Payne should never see RB ever again, he is well past it. I think he was responisbile for both their goals, first one he hangs off the attacker and forces Sasse to make an attempted tackle leading to the pen, second comes off him from the corner.
The point doesnt hurt our chances of finals footy but it kills our chances of a home semi I think.
i think aldred was superb. he was excllent against zawada
MacArthur trying to reassemble Uffie’s team. Davila not so amazing so they want Lewis to combine with him.
Get rid of Noone imo. Bit of a…
But still hoping it’s a few years too late for all of them.
One of the great unknowns- how would that game have gone at the end with Surman out there for that corner?
But also why can we not put a game away? Unfriendly goal posts?
Get rid of Noone imo. Bit of a…
But still hoping it’s a few years too late for all of them.
One of the great unknowns- how would that game have gone at the end with Surman out there for that corner?
But also why can we not put a game away? Unfriendly goal posts?
That was so frustrating. So many of those shots should've gone in and the odds of that Ball one not going in is so slim to none.
To lose the lead off the back of an unfortunate own goal feels so Nix.
Just feels like the football gods didn't want us to win that one.
Faaaark.
To lose the lead off the back of an unfortunate own goal feels so Nix.
Just feels like the football gods didn't want us to win that one.
Faaaark.
we also had a penalty that we shouldn't have been awarded. subtract that from any luck analysis
That was so frustrating. So many of those shots should've gone in and the odds of that Ball one not going in is so slim to none.
To lose the lead off the back of an unfortunate own goal feels so Nix.
Just feels like the football gods didn't want us to win that one.
Faaaark.
To lose the lead off the back of an unfortunate own goal feels so Nix.
Just feels like the football gods didn't want us to win that one.
Faaaark.
Don't know, I'd have to look at the replay again but the number of goals the Nix is conceding from corners is very telling.
we also had a penalty that we shouldn't have been awarded. subtract that from any luck analysis
wasn't clear cut, Ball certainly drew the contact, VAR agreed that it was a pen, although as discussed by the commentary it was one of those that wouldn't have been overruled either way.
Lots of excitement, there will be a good highlights package. A few terrific saves by both keepers too. Sasse enigma.
Taking the woodwork into account by my brief calculation, we should have won that game 7-3 Ball could have had a hattrick.
Sasse was good. Ugarkovic was good. Those were the two driving us forward most dangerously, I thought.
I'd have liked to see Kraev on for Ball rather than Zawada. We'd then have had better height for the corners. And getting forward Kraev and Zawada would have offered at least as much as Ball and Kraev, and we'd have been better with hold up play to keep possession. And, while Zawada had worked hard, he's got to be worth 90 when it matters.
And I'm feeling that with two short FBs and Payne playing at CB we're sitting ducks. Those lower corners are beating our short front post guard and getting through at taller head height in front of goal, with Sail trapped behind our FB and CBs, plus attackers within the 6 yard box. And then anything can happen. I've been thinking Sail should be coming for those in prev games, but he has a melee in front of him. Anyway, thoughts. It's a pity Boxall isn't ready for the minutes (presumably?) or we'd have been better again defending.
A pretty alarming first half with the number of poor turnovers. Otherwise some great energetic attacking play, great entertainment, plenty of near things. But a pity we couldn't get the result. We deserve to be top six but we'll need Boxall and a reduced turnover rate to go further, I think.
Any of that make sense? At least today we were back to playing a lot of enterprising, entertaining footie. Even if, as the lady sitting next to me said, at the finish, "frustrating".
I'd have liked to see Kraev on for Ball rather than Zawada. We'd then have had better height for the corners. And getting forward Kraev and Zawada would have offered at least as much as Ball and Kraev, and we'd have been better with hold up play to keep possession. And, while Zawada had worked hard, he's got to be worth 90 when it matters.
And I'm feeling that with two short FBs and Payne playing at CB we're sitting ducks. Those lower corners are beating our short front post guard and getting through at taller head height in front of goal, with Sail trapped behind our FB and CBs, plus attackers within the 6 yard box. And then anything can happen. I've been thinking Sail should be coming for those in prev games, but he has a melee in front of him. Anyway, thoughts. It's a pity Boxall isn't ready for the minutes (presumably?) or we'd have been better again defending.
A pretty alarming first half with the number of poor turnovers. Otherwise some great energetic attacking play, great entertainment, plenty of near things. But a pity we couldn't get the result. We deserve to be top six but we'll need Boxall and a reduced turnover rate to go further, I think.
Any of that make sense? At least today we were back to playing a lot of enterprising, entertaining footie. Even if, as the lady sitting next to me said, at the finish, "frustrating".
Sasse was good. Ugarkovic was good. Those were the two driving us forward most dangerously, I thought.
I'd have liked to see Kraev on for Ball rather than Zawada. We'd then have had better height for the corners. And getting forward Kraev and Zawada would have offered at least as much as Ball and Kraev, and we'd have been better with hold up play to keep possession. And, while Zawada had worked hard, he's got to be worth 90 when it matters.
And I'm feeling that with two short FBs and Payne playing at CB we're sitting ducks. Those lower corners are beating our short front post guard and getting through at taller head height in front of goal, with Sail trapped behind our FB and CBs, plus attackers within the 6 yard box. And then anything can happen. I've been thinking Sail should be coming for those in prev games, but he has a melee in front of him. Anyway, thoughts. It's a pity Boxall isn't ready for the minutes (presumably?) or we'd have been better again defending.
A pretty alarming first half with the number of poor turnovers. Otherwise some great energetic attacking play, great entertainment, plenty of near things. But a pity we couldn't get the result. We deserve to be top six but we'll need Boxall and a reduced turnover rate to go further, I think.
Any of that make sense? At least today we were back to playing a lot of enterprising, entertaining footie. Even if, as the lady sitting next to me said, at the finish, "frustrating".
I'd have liked to see Kraev on for Ball rather than Zawada. We'd then have had better height for the corners. And getting forward Kraev and Zawada would have offered at least as much as Ball and Kraev, and we'd have been better with hold up play to keep possession. And, while Zawada had worked hard, he's got to be worth 90 when it matters.
And I'm feeling that with two short FBs and Payne playing at CB we're sitting ducks. Those lower corners are beating our short front post guard and getting through at taller head height in front of goal, with Sail trapped behind our FB and CBs, plus attackers within the 6 yard box. And then anything can happen. I've been thinking Sail should be coming for those in prev games, but he has a melee in front of him. Anyway, thoughts. It's a pity Boxall isn't ready for the minutes (presumably?) or we'd have been better again defending.
A pretty alarming first half with the number of poor turnovers. Otherwise some great energetic attacking play, great entertainment, plenty of near things. But a pity we couldn't get the result. We deserve to be top six but we'll need Boxall and a reduced turnover rate to go further, I think.
Any of that make sense? At least today we were back to playing a lot of enterprising, entertaining footie. Even if, as the lady sitting next to me said, at the finish, "frustrating".
I don't think the Zawada sub was tactical, he took a knock near his hip on the ground at about 75 mins and was struggling to move after that.
FFS! So many chances to put this game away.
Zawada can only score one a a game, Sutton can strike it like a rocket but straight at the keeper. Sasse, so shark at times and yet can pull out some moments of gold! Ball has to have had the unluckiest 30 seconds of his career!
Could easily have been 5-1.
But 2-2 is kinda the story of our seasn, promised so much just couldnt put it in the bag and tie it up.
In all honestly I'm now ok with Lewis leaving, he is easily the most promising player we have right now and yet he has yet to show how good he can be - I bet he'll show us next season. Kosta can just fudge off, he too has promised so much in his 3 stints with us and yet given nothing. Payne should never see RB ever again, he is well past it. I think he was responisbile for both their goals, first one he hangs off the attacker and forces Sasse to make an attempted tackle leading to the pen, second comes off him from the corner.
The point doesnt hurt our chances of finals footy but it kills our chances of a home semi I think.
Zawada can only score one a a game, Sutton can strike it like a rocket but straight at the keeper. Sasse, so shark at times and yet can pull out some moments of gold! Ball has to have had the unluckiest 30 seconds of his career!
Could easily have been 5-1.
But 2-2 is kinda the story of our seasn, promised so much just couldnt put it in the bag and tie it up.
In all honestly I'm now ok with Lewis leaving, he is easily the most promising player we have right now and yet he has yet to show how good he can be - I bet he'll show us next season. Kosta can just fudge off, he too has promised so much in his 3 stints with us and yet given nothing. Payne should never see RB ever again, he is well past it. I think he was responisbile for both their goals, first one he hangs off the attacker and forces Sasse to make an attempted tackle leading to the pen, second comes off him from the corner.
The point doesnt hurt our chances of finals footy but it kills our chances of a home semi I think.
Lately I've been critical of Kosta, but thought he was actually pretty good today.
Can someone tell me why Kraev is not starting?
He's, in my view, arguably the most talented player in the A-league. I'm really starting to question some of Talay's tactical/selection choices...
He's, in my view, arguably the most talented player in the A-league. I'm really starting to question some of Talay's tactical/selection choices...
Can someone tell me why Kraev is not starting?
He's, in my view, arguably the most talented player in the A-league. I'm really starting to question some of Talay's tactical/selection choices...
He's, in my view, arguably the most talented player in the A-league. I'm really starting to question some of Talay's tactical/selection choices...
He has struggled to make a lot of impact the last few games. I think Kosta rose to the opportunity, but I was definitely surprised.
Wowee. We were close on top 4.
Now 6-10 has the possibility of reeling us in.
Gotta say last 3 games have seen us slump, but other teams, particularly WSW, CCM and Sydney, really rise to the occasion.
Not looking good.
Now 6-10 has the possibility of reeling us in.
Gotta say last 3 games have seen us slump, but other teams, particularly WSW, CCM and Sydney, really rise to the occasion.
Not looking good.
Wowee. We were close on top 4.
Now 6-10 has the possibility of reeling us in.
Gotta say last 3 games have seen us slump, but other teams, particularly WSW, CCM and Sydney, really rise to the occasion.
Not looking good.
Now 6-10 has the possibility of reeling us in.
Gotta say last 3 games have seen us slump, but other teams, particularly WSW, CCM and Sydney, really rise to the occasion.
Not looking good.
Yup, on current form it's not guaranteed we'll make the play offs... Let alone causing any upsets if we do. But hey we're in the top 6 at this stage of the season. I'm happy with that. There's a lot of teams below us who'd kill to swap places
Pros:
Kostas best game for us...ever. Looked hungry to do something for once.
Sasses best game. He's got the speed and ball control to succeed, just has a knack for poor decisions.
Ugarkovic looks way better when he actually decided to attack.
Cons:
Defense sharks the bed when they feel an ounce of pressure.
Lewis stood and watched Hore dribble it past him for an open shot to goal. Lewis has already got his head elsewhere.
Callan is a better RB than Payne in defense and 4.34x better in attack, why he no start?
Payne is a, "whole team is in the box, 1-0 down 95th minute....nope I'll pass it 60m back to the keeper thanks" type of player.
Kostas best game for us...ever. Looked hungry to do something for once.
Sasses best game. He's got the speed and ball control to succeed, just has a knack for poor decisions.
Ugarkovic looks way better when he actually decided to attack.
Cons:
Defense sharks the bed when they feel an ounce of pressure.
Lewis stood and watched Hore dribble it past him for an open shot to goal. Lewis has already got his head elsewhere.
Callan is a better RB than Payne in defense and 4.34x better in attack, why he no start?
Payne is a, "whole team is in the box, 1-0 down 95th minute....nope I'll pass it 60m back to the keeper thanks" type of player.
Sasse was good. Ugarkovic was good. Those were the two driving us forward most dangerously, I thought.
I'd have liked to see Kraev on for Ball rather than Zawada. We'd then have had better height for the corners. And getting forward Kraev and Zawada would have offered at least as much as Ball and Kraev, and we'd have been better with hold up play to keep possession. And, while Zawada had worked hard, he's got to be worth 90 when it matters.
And I'm feeling that with two short FBs and Payne playing at CB we're sitting ducks. Those lower corners are beating our short front post guard and getting through at taller head height in front of goal, with Sail trapped behind our FB and CBs, plus attackers within the 6 yard box. And then anything can happen. I've been thinking Sail should be coming for those in prev games, but he has a melee in front of him. Anyway, thoughts. It's a pity Boxall isn't ready for the minutes (presumably?) or we'd have been better again defending.
A pretty alarming first half with the number of poor turnovers. Otherwise some great energetic attacking play, great entertainment, plenty of near things. But a pity we couldn't get the result. We deserve to be top six but we'll need Boxall and a reduced turnover rate to go further, I think.
Any of that make sense? At least today we were back to playing a lot of enterprising, entertaining footie. Even if, as the lady sitting next to me said, at the finish, "frustrating".
I'd have liked to see Kraev on for Ball rather than Zawada. We'd then have had better height for the corners. And getting forward Kraev and Zawada would have offered at least as much as Ball and Kraev, and we'd have been better with hold up play to keep possession. And, while Zawada had worked hard, he's got to be worth 90 when it matters.
And I'm feeling that with two short FBs and Payne playing at CB we're sitting ducks. Those lower corners are beating our short front post guard and getting through at taller head height in front of goal, with Sail trapped behind our FB and CBs, plus attackers within the 6 yard box. And then anything can happen. I've been thinking Sail should be coming for those in prev games, but he has a melee in front of him. Anyway, thoughts. It's a pity Boxall isn't ready for the minutes (presumably?) or we'd have been better again defending.
A pretty alarming first half with the number of poor turnovers. Otherwise some great energetic attacking play, great entertainment, plenty of near things. But a pity we couldn't get the result. We deserve to be top six but we'll need Boxall and a reduced turnover rate to go further, I think.
Any of that make sense? At least today we were back to playing a lot of enterprising, entertaining footie. Even if, as the lady sitting next to me said, at the finish, "frustrating".
I don't think the Zawada sub was tactical, he took a knock near his hip on the ground at about 75 mins and was struggling to move after that.
On current form we are long shots to get anything out of the WSW game. Could all come down to having to beat Macarthur in the last game.
Really poor defending yet again by the Phoenix... amazingly our defenders were even back peddling well inside our box, ludicrous !
We moved the ball out from the back with real energy/urgency/ in the 2nd half, giving us good momentum going forward, so our strikers had more time & space on the ball, so kept possession for decent periods, making us more threatening on attack.
Was a strange comment from Sail after the match, he completely blamed the strikers, sure we should've scored another 2 or 3, but were also very unlucky with shots hitting the post 3 times, on another day they could've easily ended up in the back of their net... amazingly Sail never mentioned how useless his defenders were in front of him.
We moved the ball out from the back with real energy/urgency/ in the 2nd half, giving us good momentum going forward, so our strikers had more time & space on the ball, so kept possession for decent periods, making us more threatening on attack.
Was a strange comment from Sail after the match, he completely blamed the strikers, sure we should've scored another 2 or 3, but were also very unlucky with shots hitting the post 3 times, on another day they could've easily ended up in the back of their net... amazingly Sail never mentioned how useless his defenders were in front of him.
Just seen that Surman played for the Reserves in Wellington club football on Saturday. So looks like he is on the outer at the moment. Especially with Laws out.
We just knew it wast going to be a good shirts off day and to top it all off realised to late had lost my Pounamu in the process. So not a good return to Auckland overall.
Even though Zawada still can't yet score more than once in a match, he now has 14 goals for the season. This means he has now surpassed Ifill and Burns' tally of 13 from 09/10 and 14/15 respectively and is the 3rd highest goalscorer in a Phoenix season behind Brockie 16 (12/13) and Krishna 19 (18/19).
Speaking of Zawada, I'm impressed with how well he's doing with penalties since having his first one saved.
Speaking of Zawada, I'm impressed with how well he's doing with penalties since having his first one saved.
Are we now not happy just to be scraping into the 6? i brought this up months ago that we should be setting higher standards and got slammed for it. I said we would be a middle of the pack club and many on here suggested that was acceptable! So why so many getting upset now? Unlikely we will win next week so it will come down to the last game.......Is that good enough? i mean at least it will be exciting in some respects. UFUK had to go months ago and we couldve had a far stronger finish to the season...his head went a while back lets be honest. Some players are still trying whilst some others now thinking about their next club. Chances of keeping Zawada? i have a strong feeling he will be off after this season....an offer will come in or he will down tools to force a move
Are we now not happy just to be scraping into the 6? i brought this up months ago that we should be setting higher standards and got slammed for it. I said we would be a middle of the pack club and many on here suggested that was acceptable! So why so many getting upset now? Unlikely we will win next week so it will come down to the last game.......Is that good enough? i mean at least it will be exciting in some respects. UFUK had to go months ago and we couldve had a far stronger finish to the season...his head went a while back lets be honest. Some players are still trying whilst some others now thinking about their next club. Chances of keeping Zawada? i have a strong feeling he will be off after this season....an offer will come in or he will down tools to force a move
Plus Zawada is here till at last end of next season,. He was signed on a two year deal.
Squaking in to the 6 isnt what anyone wanted, especially with what was discussed as being the best/most expensive squad ever! We all wanted a strong appearance into the 6 (top 4 preferrably).
The demands for Uffies head as coach have been annoying and well worth shooting down. He is still the most succesful (winning) coach we've had.
Squaking in to the 6 isnt what anyone wanted, especially with what was discussed as being the best/most expensive squad ever! We all wanted a strong appearance into the 6 (top 4 preferrably).
The demands for Uffies head as coach have been annoying and well worth shooting down. He is still the most succesful (winning) coach we've had.
Plus Zawada is here till at last end of next season,. He was signed on a two year deal.
Squaking in to the 6 isnt what anyone wanted, especially with what was discussed as being the best/most expensive squad ever! We all wanted a strong appearance into the 6 (top 4 preferrably).
The demands for Uffies head as coach have been annoying and well worth shooting down. He is still the most succesful (winning) coach we've had.
Squaking in to the 6 isnt what anyone wanted, especially with what was discussed as being the best/most expensive squad ever! We all wanted a strong appearance into the 6 (top 4 preferrably).
The demands for Uffies head as coach have been annoying and well worth shooting down. He is still the most succesful (winning) coach we've had.
The resources he's got at his disposal do have to be taken into account though. I'd say he's probably had the most support financial and otherwise of any Nix coach.
Now I must say that I do really like Talay, I am a fan of his no bullshark attitude, so I don't like having to be too critical of him, but it must be said that he really doesn't strike me as anything other than an average A-League. Tactically he's just a slightly updated Arnold and I don't think it works unless you literally have the best players in the league.
Tldr: he's not really any more than average as his record suggests.
I doubt anyone was slammed for wanting to finish higher. The expectation has to be at least 4th for a home semi.
Scraping into the finals and exiting after the first round is pointless.
Scraping into the finals and exiting after the first round is pointless.
Would be interesting to know what the fans of the other Australian ALM cubs (the other 11) think of our squad on paper. I don't think they would be that impressed and at season start, likely would have predicted us to finish mid table at best. Apart from Zawada (and maybe Ball) I suspect most couldn't name our visa players, who the Pole apart are all pretty average for the ALM.
I still scratch my head how this is the most expensive Nix squad ever. Of course recruitment is on Uffie & Gill, but on paper I think this is a pretty mediocre dull Nix squad and the table position reflects that.
Having a proper H&A season, after the Covid years I was optimistic Talay could finally have a fair proper crack at the title, but the squad just doesn't have the quality to match Melb City & Adelaide. Not even close in reality.
I still scratch my head how this is the most expensive Nix squad ever. Of course recruitment is on Uffie & Gill, but on paper I think this is a pretty mediocre dull Nix squad and the table position reflects that.
Having a proper H&A season, after the Covid years I was optimistic Talay could finally have a fair proper crack at the title, but the squad just doesn't have the quality to match Melb City & Adelaide. Not even close in reality.
Would be interesting to know what the fans of the other Australian ALM cubs (the other 11) think of our squad on paper. I don't think they would be that impressed and at season start, likely would have predicted us to finish mid table at best. Apart from Zawada (and maybe Ball) I suspect most couldn't name our visa players, who the Pole apart are all pretty average for the ALM.
I still scratch my head how this is the most expensive Nix squad ever. Of course recruitment is on Uffie & Gill, but on paper I think this is a pretty mediocre dull Nix squad and the table position reflects that.
Having a proper H&A season, after the Covid years I was optimistic Talay could finally have a fair proper crack at the title, but the squad just doesn't have the quality to match Melb City & Adelaide. Not even close in reality.
I still scratch my head how this is the most expensive Nix squad ever. Of course recruitment is on Uffie & Gill, but on paper I think this is a pretty mediocre dull Nix squad and the table position reflects that.
Having a proper H&A season, after the Covid years I was optimistic Talay could finally have a fair proper crack at the title, but the squad just doesn't have the quality to match Melb City & Adelaide. Not even close in reality.
I think most of the pre season predictions I saw had us coming in at about 5th. You yeah, pretty middle of the pack.