WPM R25 vs Western Sydney Wanderers | Fri 21st April | 9:45pm | SS2

Win would be nice. 
Laws back from suspension.

Given our form right now, don't know what to expect.

Our form has been average, but WSW's hasn't been flash either. We draw with them earlier in the seaoson so we should really be pushing for the win. Fingers crossed cos we really need the 3 points to stay within the 6.

NZPhoenixFan

Given our form right now, don't know what to expect.

I expect one half will be great football.

Ball to set a new record by hitting the post four times. Sasse running himself ragged only to score once at each end. Zawada to practice shouting "kurva !" in anguish at missed opportunity for a second goal in one game.

Mainland FC

Ball to set a new record by hitting the post four times. Sasse running himself ragged only to score once at each end. Zawada to practice shouting "kurva !" in anguish at missed opportunity for a second goal in one game.

Kosta to do three backheels, Sutts to smash a shot just wide of the left post, Elliot to nutmeg two different players on a run down the line, BK to declare that he loves being on the bench.

2ndBest

Win would be nice. 
Laws back from suspension.

Nice?  Fudge me.  Be like Mike.  We're winning this.  No more nice.  

A win against Rudan is always so much sweeter. Whats our record against Rudan? feel like its pretty decent?

With Alex King as referee

WSW: 8 wins, 5 draws, 9 losses

WEL: 8 wins, 4 draws, 9 losses

Nix vs WSW: P31 W12 D6 L13

@ CommBank: P4 W2 D0 L2

We have played WSW in our second-last game for the last 3 seasons (including this season). All of which were pivotal.

wilbaker

A win against Rudan is always so much sweeter. Whats our record against Rudan? feel like its pretty decent?

Rudan vs The Nix: P9 W1 D2 L6

https://www.ultimatealeague.com/manager/?manager_id=64

Going to need to seriously keep an eye on Borrello tonight, Layouni has also looked pretty dangerous since coming in. Plus there's the unwanted possibility Nieuwenhof could score another screamer against us.

Will be interesting to see how the line-up varies from last week. I presume Laws will be back in, or will it be Payne?
Rufer back in midfield?
Kosta up front?

Expecting to see:
Sail
Elliot Laws Wootten Sutton
    Rufer Lewis
Sasse          Kraev
  Zawada    Ball

Laws in for Payne in CB with Elliott to start on the right.

Match preview is up on the Phoenix website:
https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/isuzu-ute-a-league-round-25-match-preview

Wellington Phoenix squad: 3. Finn SURMAN, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Steven UGARKOVIC, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 9. Oskar ZAWADA, 10. David BALL, 11. Bozhidar KRAEV, 12. Lucas MAURAGIS, 13. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 14. Alex RUFER, 15. Nikko BOXALL, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 19. Sam SUTTON, 20. Oli SAIL (gk), 21. Joshua LAWS, 23. Clayton LEWIS, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 31. Yan SASSE, 40. Alex PAULSEN (gk).
Unavailable: 8. Ben OLD (injured).

Western Sydney Wanderers: 1. Daniel MARGUSH (gk), 2. Gabriel CLEUR, 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Morgan SCHNEIDERLIN, 5. Tomi MRCELA, 6.  Marcelo (c), 8. Oliver BOZANIC, 9. Kusini YENGI, 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 11. Amor LAYOUNI, 14. Nicolas MILANOVIC, 16. Tom BEADLING, 17. Romain AMALFITANO, 20. Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 23. Yeni NGBAKOTO, 26. Brandon BORRELLO, 28. Calem NIEUWENHOF, 29. Terry ANTONIS, 31. Aidan SIMMONS, 33. Alexander BONETIG.
Unavailable: Nil. 

COYN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not looking forward to this. Could be a bloodbath.

could you at least be a little excited?

I’ve watched quite a few WSW games and they tend to be quite toothless against teams that soak up and play them on the counter as they’re most effective on the counter so that could be the game plan but not sure if I trust our defence enough to play that way 

My only prediction for this match is that Rufer and Marcelo will try and kill each other. 

Doloras

Not looking forward to this. Could be a bloodbath.

It does have the potential to be

WSW are a damn good side. they have several players who are probably top 10 in the league. 

Great players and their coach, forgot his name, has them playing well as a team.

By rights WSW should win every game they play. But football's a funny game and all that guff. It'd be great if we win this.

Rudan's our bitch. We'll smash them.

This could be the game that plays us back into form. All the uncertainty over the last few weeks about players and Talay are now over, the team will be settled and now know what they're playing for.

I won't be surprised if we see Kraev and Zawada up top since they have two big CBs.

We spend so much time playing other teams into form.  It's Rudans turn to play us into form.

Nix 6-1

Ryan

Rudan's our bitch. We'll smash them.

This could be the game that plays us back into form. All the uncertainty over the last few weeks about players and Talay are now over, the team will be settled and now know what they're playing for.

Fudge I hope you’re right. COYN

 

 

sensible selection. Only real question is Rufer vs Ugarkovic. Gone for the more attacking setup. Risky but we will see. 

This is possibly our strongest lineup.

Very surprised again to see Rufer left on the pine. 

boxall not even on the bench. understandable seeing as laws is back, but still a bummer for the lad after being subbed at HT last week

also a bit harsh on barbarouses

reg22

also a bit harsh on barbarouses

I think he really should be challenging Ball for his position. They are both having poor attacking seasons and I imagine its only Balls defensive work keeping him a head of him 

Fire Up🔥 !!

Come on Phoenix 

and we are in yellow! Surely a good thing

Have we kicked off yet…

God defend New Zealand

Why did we start call Mark Rudan Marko Rudan?

Bring Paulson on.

I won’t miss Sail tbh. May be an unpopular opinion but I think he’s more a liability.