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

We had a shot on target!

Sutton, Lewis and Payne off.

reg22

jees, we are not a good unit are we

they sure are. even their kids are on another level

Wonder why that is…
Wonder if Rudan did something really radical like give them proper minutes with the team performing rather than just throw them on when it’s all turned to crap or use them as poker chips at the death when gambling the whistle goes before throwing away a 1 goal lead.

What I mean about Sasse- one touch, ball with pace into a gap for Elliot. Better than we might think.

I think what is really annoying me is that earlier in the season we were really good at the short passing style which is cutting us open tonight. We even saw a glimps of it last week with the 2nd goal. I wish we would go back because our current approach of patient passing across the backline attack and aimless crossing doesnt get us anywhere 

theprof

reg22

sasse cannot receieva a pass. he has so many good ingredients, but somehow has no technique!

doesnt help when you've got your defender climbing all over you.

it literally just happened again. no fouling, just basic defending. 

Right, so crosses haven't been working for us tonight, would love to see an different tactic tried 

our attack is so one dimensional at the moment, cross into Zawada which is easy to defend, nothing from Kosta, Kraev or either of the midfielders who you'd expect to chip in 4/5.

is that our bench cleared? Pennington on for Ugarkovic.

tame attempt. sums up tonights effort. 

Thanks for effing up the start of the weekend.
How on earth can they come up with such a poor performance. Absolutely embarrassing! Need to take a good hard look at themselves.
It’s obvious that the heart isn’t there.

seems silly to be picking up yellows now when the game has gone

does laws consider that a sprint i wonder?

and that goal right there highlights our biggest issue this season, our midfielders refuse to defend - it doesnt matter whether its Lewis/Ugarkovic/Rufer or Pennington they all let players run past them with little or no effort to tackle them. This forces a ridiculous charge forward from the CB (Wootten in this case) which leaves a massive gap at the back and an easy meg on the keeper.

in the 4min, we were done by playing a high-line. how the fudge do we continue to play a high-line and expect a different outcome?!?! something about the definition of being crazy in there.  

Season is done. No way they come back from the last 5 games of garbage.
Rebuild for next season, wait? We got the assistant coach to that garbage for the next two years.

this could be the first game we don't score in all season

Think if we got on the piss three times this next week rather than training and had a couple of hot pool recovery days, with a decent steak dinner or two thrown in we’d do better than if we tried training this week. 

RBB really making some decent noise all game - impressive.

the way this season is ending, I think it would be good for Chief to stop talking about continuing what Uffie started...Because he started fine but the way he has finished isnt that flash. 

Ah, this is actually sad to see how badly the wheels have come off. Don't get me wrong, I am used to it. But the part that sucks the most is that the team lead the fans on with some great performances and let them down when it really matters. Cursed! 

we are dire

that could have been a lot more

that was rather dissappointng.

I hate to say it but this is becoming an unfortunate and kind of depressing end to Talay’s mighty era. Got to finish the regular season strong against Macarthur.

That was fudgeing rough.

well that was as much fun as wetting the bed. But lets golf cart driving drunk tonight and start a fresh on Monday. Then come out and smash the pub team next weekend. 

Phoenix made them look good but on the evidence of that first half performance WSW are the best team in the A League.

reg22

we are dire

that could have been a lot more

I'm inclined to think a lot of it is just a lack of pace. We're ponderous going forwards. And whenever sides press us hard, or attack us at pace, we're carved up.  

mjp2

reg22

we are dire

that could have been a lot more

I'm inclined to think a lot of it is just a lack of pace. We're ponderous going forwards. And whenever sides press us hard, or attack us at pace, we're carved up.  

For sure. It's throughout the team but Payne and Wootten aren't a good starting point.

As much as I wanted us to make the playoffs, I now hope we don't. We have been toothless. We're just going to get wasted even if we make the playoffs. 

We're gonna smoke Macarthur next week.

Our losses have been so big the last few weeks we could potentially WIN next week and still miss out on top six on goal difference, only +4gd now against Newcastle and +5gd vs Western, so if either teams win this weekend and next (particularly one of them by a few) we can still miss out even if we beat the Bulls (unless we win by a few)!

Next year we need someone who is a nailed on starter (not Rufer) with some passion, respect from the players, and ability to back up his words as the captain. Everyone looked lost last night, with lots of arm waving and blaming each other. Apparently Sail threw his captains armband into the net after one of the goals, not a great look. These guys don't look like a team and that includes the coach.

NZPhoenixFan

As much as I wanted us to make the playoffs, I now hope we don't. We have been toothless. We're just going to get wasted even if we make the playoffs. 

Yes, there is literally no point in making the play offs in our current. We all know what will happen.

Went to bed at half time, could see where it was going and wasn’t going to bother putting the effort in if they weren’t. We looked completely bereft of any pace or ideas. I’d sack the entire backline and midfield less Elliot. Pathetic.

A very sad end to what has been a good tenure. Can’t see them working out how to win next weekend.

siac

Our losses have been so big the last few weeks we could potentially WIN next week and still miss out on top six on goal difference, only +4gd now against Newcastle and +5gd vs Western, so if either teams win this weekend and next (particularly one of them by a few) we can still miss out even if we beat the Bulls (unless we win by a few)!

Newcastle play Sydney next week, so we should remain 6th.
Sydney win we stay 6th 
Draw we stay 6th
Newcastle win we stay 6th on goal difference, unless its a big win and we lose.

If chiefy insists on the same tactics and can't get any decent local aus/NZ players on board in the transfer window, it's going to be a grim couple of seasons. The only silver lining is we will probably get a fun Auckland Franchise to distract us from our own woes.

InsulinMachine

NZPhoenixFan

As much as I wanted us to make the playoffs, I now hope we don't. We have been toothless. We're just going to get wasted even if we make the playoffs. 

Yes, there is literally no point in making the play offs in our current. We all know what will happen.

 
Yeah, I gave up on them, it is sad. Clearly the team is not up to the task at the moment.
Should send Talay, Sail, Lewis, Uga on vacation and let play the players who like to play for contracts.

Nommag

If chiefy insists on the same tactics and can't get any decent local aus/NZ players on board in the transfer window, it's going to be a grim couple of seasons. The only silver lining is we will probably get a fun Auckland Franchise to distract us from our own woes.

As a loyal fan I stayed up till midnight watching this horror show. By the look of our performance last night, Chiefy will have his work cut out for him if he has any ambition.  
Are we really a bad team all of a sudden? Probably not, players cannot suddenly lose their individual skills, but something has visibly changed. Did Talay take his foot of the gas? Even if so, players on the field are not preschoolers and the coach alone is not the reason.
And yet - we stopped playing well, while teams like WSW or Adelaide (hey, even M Victory) have simply improved out of sight over the last few months.   Even Brisbane gave us a very solid run for our money. We seem to have lost purpose about six weeks ago, have not found it again, and this is reflected in how we play.  
Macarthur will look to the next game with anticipation.

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Not only was it dreadful but outright embarrassing.

Does any remember how vocal Uffy used to be on the sideline? Up and down, yelling at players to press and move the ball quickly? The number of times the camera cut to him sitting on the bench looking like he wanted to go home.

We didn't even look like we wanted to make tackles, Oli as well when he had a chance to smother a heavy touch on one of WSW's many attacks instead choosing to try shepherd the play towards the byline, screaming of a serious lack of confidence.
I wish I was taking the piss but Rufer and Pennington to start next week, at least we might get a bit of fight.