(Alex) Rufer is one of four key ins for Wellington as Scott Wootton, Paulo Retre and Isaac Hughes all return from injury – but Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano will be without star import Chico Geraldes who will miss Round 25 with a knee injury.
Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Ryan SCOTT, 4. Phillip ČANČAR, 6. Matthew SCARCELLA, 7. Eli ADAMS, 9. Lachlan ROSE, 10. WELLISSOL, 13. Clayton TAYLOR, 14. Dane INGHAM, 15. Aleksandar ŠUŠNJAR, 17. Kosta GROZOS, 18. Kota MIZUNUMA, 19. Callum TIMMINS, 20. Charles M’MOMBWA, 21. Noah JAMES, 22. Ben GIBSON, 23. Daniel WILMERING, 28. Will DOBSON, 33. Mark NATTA, 37. Lachlan BAYLISS, 39. Thomas AQUILINA
(Two to be omitted) Ins: 10. WELLISSOL, 20. Charles M’MOMBWA Outs: 24. Alex NUNES, 29. Justin VIDIĆ, 44. Ben VAN DORSSEN, 60. Garang AROU. Unavailable: 25. Oscar FRYER, 11. Jacob DOWSE
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk),3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 35. Dublin BOON (gk), 41. Nathan WALKER, 46. Lachlan CANDY
(Two to be omitted) Ins: 4. Scott WOOTTON (returning from injury), 8. Paulo RETRE (returning from injury), 14. Alex RUFER (c) (returning from suspension), 15. Isaac HUGHES (returning from injury). Outs: 12. Chico GERALDES (injured), 21. Marco ROJAS (released), 36. Xuan LOKE (omitted), 39. Jayden SMITH (omitted). Unavailable: 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 12. Chico GERALDES (injured), 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk) (injured).
Most of this years injuries happened at training. Can't blame the training facility though. Supposed to be top notch. So why are we so injury prone this season? Conditioning ? Coaching method ? Unlucky coincidence ?
serious question need to be asked of everyone and everything in this club, we supposedly have the best facilities, so what is going on? its not "bad luck" when it keeps happening and over and over again... I am calling it, an external review of the club is needed.. might sound extreme but I think the answers wont come from within
serious question need to be asked of everyone and everything in this club, we supposedly have the best facilities, so what is going on? its not "bad luck" when it keeps happening and over and over again... I am calling it, an external review of the club is needed.. might sound extreme but I think the answers wont come from within
You gonna fund this review? Agree with you though, the number of training injuries this season compared to others is odd.
Rather that money go to that then some of the bullshark marketing gimmicks they tend to come up with, idk man it's just been a total disaster, and unless they are willing to learn, nothing will change theprof
Nixieboys222
serious question need to be asked of everyone and everything in this club, we supposedly have the best facilities, so what is going on? its not "bad luck" when it keeps happening and over and over again... I am calling it, an external review of the club is needed.. might sound extreme but I think the answers wont come from within
You gonna fund this review? Agree with you though, the number of training injuries this season compared to others is odd.
Might as well play this lineup for the rest of the season. I’d even drop Ishige, Nagasawa and Oluwayemi if we had the players available.
Wootton and Sutton leaving so might as well blood the newbies, give Piper some experience at CB and get ready for next season.
Agree re giving Piper some mins at CB. It's the position he was supposedly signed to cover. See on the podcast this week, is a question, is he going to be this generation's Ben Sigmund. So yes if Wootton is leaving, give Piper some good mins at CB before season's end.
Can only help with preparations for next season. Especially given the upcoming pre season is going to be majorly disrupted with the U20 WC kicking off in September.
With Marco & Chico both gone for the remainder of this campaign, that flicker of hope there was that the Nix would be more entertaining to watch, has likely been extinguished. Sadly it's likely to revert to being a bit ugly again these last 5 games.
Might as well prepare for 2025/26. A balancing act between not being beaten by 5-6 goals, avoiding the wooden spoon, and giving those who will be at the club next season some valauble playing time. We haven't seen GSR basically all season. So hopefully he plays now.
The Nix will likely finish somewhere 9th-11th. They are 10 pts clear of both Brisbane (12th) & Perth (13th).
Whether it is 9th or 11th may matter re the Australia Cup draw?? But really the greater importance is developing their combos for next season and giving the younger guys very useful ALM mins.
Might as well play this lineup for the rest of the season. I’d even drop Ishige, Nagasawa and Oluwayemi if we had the players available.
Wootton and Sutton leaving so might as well blood the newbies, give Piper some experience at CB and get ready for next season.
Agree re giving Piper some mins at CB. It's the position he was supposedly signed to cover. See on the podcast this week, is a question, is he going to be this generation's Ben Sigmund. So yes if Wootton is leaving, give Piper some good mins at CB before season's end.
Can only help with preparations for next season. Especially given the upcoming pre season is going to be majorly disrupted with the U20 WC kicking off in September.
With Marco & Chico both gone for the remainder of this campaign, that flicker of hope there was that the Nix would be more entertaining to watch, has likely been extinguished. Sadly it's likely to revert to being a bit ugly again these last 5 games.
Might as well prepare for 2025/26. A balancing act between not being beaten by 5-6 goals, avoiding the wooden spoon, and giving those who will be at the club next season some valauble playing time. We haven't seen GSR basically all season. So hopefully he plays now.
The Nix will likely finish somewhere 9th-11th. They are 10 pts clear of both Brisbane (12th) & Perth (13th).
Whether it is 9th or 11th may matter re the Australia Cup draw?? But really the greater importance is developing their combos for next season and giving the younger guys very useful ALM mins.
Re Piper unless a solid starting position is hammered out for him in the next year or so by the coaching staff I'd be concerned for him that he might eventually end up falling away from the squad. If he wants to have some longevity in pro football I think he needs to be something more than just a jack of all trades. We've seen a lot of those players in the league come and go over the years.
The problem is that at the moment his skill set is quite mixed. He is an aggressive player who loves to get forward but if there is the idea to turn him into a decent quality CB then he would have to reign in that attacking instinct and be taught to play within certain limits, especially re positioning and accurate passing out from the back. Someone like Brian Kaltak would be the ideal model for him, a real late bloomer who is excellent at reading the game, keeps things simple and who has made himself one of the league's best CBs.
Or if it's to be a FB role you could look at someone like Lewis Miller, ex-Mariners, a similarly big solid unit, a bit clumsy looking, whose touch and skill weren't that impressive a few years ago but who has found his mojo and is now playing regularly for the Socceroos.
Piper's just 22, plenty of time - if that time is invested wisely - to cement him into a role that will give him a big future at the Nix.
From what I have seen of his skill level, I think his only possible position long term is in the middle of defence. May as well start that education now if Wooten is on his way to Perth.
Could end up being a Siggy defender and a Gabriel beast at corners.
Great header of the ball. Strong unit. Fearless. Pretty good at timing a tackle. But weaknesses with his first touch, passing and option taking. Everything says centre back. He can come up for free kicks and corners, to fill his urge to score a goal or 3 a season. Or if the the Nix are chasing a goal send him up front for the last 10 mins to try create some havoc/knock downs. Harry Souttar often does it for the Socceroos.
But Piper would benefit from games at CB now with the Nix having little to play for and Wootton leaving. Then yes a full proper pre season. He came in very late from memory this campaign.
Has also been a few in the Nix ALW team do their ACL the last few seasons. Though that type of injury is sadly prevalent in women's football.
I've been on it often enough. Think of it as a Lawn Bowles surface with the glass being about 1cm in length. It's firm as, like concrete, with F all give. Hence no sprig boots are worn.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
Hoping to see a similar showing to last week. The setup and style was much better and we were a good watch compared to most of the season.
It will be interesting to see what Cheify does with Tim Payne. I thought he was excellent last week and his passing made a real difference to our build up.
