Shout out to the ref who had the balls to actually use his own mind when reviewing a VAR referral. Almost never do they trust themselves enough to stick to their decison compared to what VAR is saying to look at.
WPM R4 vs Melbourne City | Sun 30th Oct | 7:00pm | SS7
Lots of negative and positive points in this game. Still trying to process it all.
If nothing else, the go behind then always lose curse has finally been broken.
If nothing else, the go behind then always lose curse has finally been broken.
so many panic merchants at 35 minutes into the game!
Then the maestro makes the changes that he probably planned at some point, and we steal the draw against the top team in the league, which if given pre-game we all would have taken and not said a word.
The game goes for 90 mins, Uffie sent a message to his starters that had not won him a game this season, and they came on and did what was asked. Kosta doing what he's done for years and popping up in the right place and scoring, rare occurrence in a Nix jersey. Sutton just doing what he's alwyas done for us. It was a tough first half - but we came good in the second and bossed them around.
Then the maestro makes the changes that he probably planned at some point, and we steal the draw against the top team in the league, which if given pre-game we all would have taken and not said a word.
The game goes for 90 mins, Uffie sent a message to his starters that had not won him a game this season, and they came on and did what was asked. Kosta doing what he's done for years and popping up in the right place and scoring, rare occurrence in a Nix jersey. Sutton just doing what he's alwyas done for us. It was a tough first half - but we came good in the second and bossed them around.
Some laughable 'result-dependent' comments in here
Do some people really believe that laughably dire first half performance was coaching genius?
Do some people really believe that laughably dire first half performance was coaching genius?
Very well said.
Technical question on rules: when the VAR asked Kersey to review Wooton's challenge on McLaren, the decision not to award penalty (no foul) was based - as I understood - on the fact that McLaren lost possession and Phoenix had the ball.
If the above is correct, then can someone brighter than me explain why it wasn't deemed an "off the ball" foul, that is that Wooton got into JMcL legs regardless of the possession?
I am not looking for an explanation that "McLaren just tripped and fell over the player". I still remember seeing Italy winning a penalty against Australia at the 2006 WC when Totti simply ran into the legs of Lucas Neill who was on the deck in Australia's penalty box despite Totti having plenty of space to dodge him.
If the above is correct, then can someone brighter than me explain why it wasn't deemed an "off the ball" foul, that is that Wooton got into JMcL legs regardless of the possession?
I am not looking for an explanation that "McLaren just tripped and fell over the player". I still remember seeing Italy winning a penalty against Australia at the 2006 WC when Totti simply ran into the legs of Lucas Neill who was on the deck in Australia's penalty box despite Totti having plenty of space to dodge him.
I doubt we'll get an explanation, but I think the ref would say that the contact was inconsequential because the ball was away from him by that stage. That is, even without the contact, the play wouldn't have changed.
Technical question on rules: when the VAR asked Kersey to review Wooton's challenge on McLaren, the decision not to award penalty (no foul) was based - as I understood - on the fact that McLaren lost possession and Phoenix had the ball.
If the above is correct, then can someone brighter than me explain why it wasn't deemed an "off the ball" foul, that is that Wooton got into JMcL legs regardless of the possession?
I am not looking for an explanation that "McLaren just tripped and fell over the player". I still remember seeing Italy winning a penalty against Australia at the 2006 WC when Totti simply ran into the legs of Lucas Neill who was on the deck in Australia's penalty box despite Totti having plenty of space to dodge him.
If the above is correct, then can someone brighter than me explain why it wasn't deemed an "off the ball" foul, that is that Wooton got into JMcL legs regardless of the possession?
I am not looking for an explanation that "McLaren just tripped and fell over the player". I still remember seeing Italy winning a penalty against Australia at the 2006 WC when Totti simply ran into the legs of Lucas Neill who was on the deck in Australia's penalty box despite Totti having plenty of space to dodge him.
commentary team they heard the conversation with the VAR on the sideline, Kersey said he believed that Mclaren was already in the air when contact was made, therefore no foul play. Ref stuck to his decision.
Some laughable 'result-dependent' comments in here
Do some people really believe that laughably dire first half performance was coaching genius?
Do some people really believe that laughably dire first half performance was coaching genius?
Happy with the result, to be honest if we compare this seasons first 4 games with previous seasons, we are already much improved. Our time will come, I assume things will look brighter after the break.
1) Good comeback but yet another sluggish start ruined our chance of 3 points
2) Too many backwards passes and not enough of our players taking on defenders to cut through the opposition defense
3) Wootton is a liability, as are most of our defense currently. It's a real problem going forward
4) I believe the imports need time to settle. Sasse in particular will get better no doubt. Has to settle and adapt
2) Too many backwards passes and not enough of our players taking on defenders to cut through the opposition defense
3) Wootton is a liability, as are most of our defense currently. It's a real problem going forward
4) I believe the imports need time to settle. Sasse in particular will get better no doubt. Has to settle and adapt
Wellington Phoenix points totals after 4 rounds under Ufuk Talay:
2019/20
LLLL
0 Points
4GF 8GA
2020/21
LDLW
4 Points
5GF 6GA
2021/22
DWLL
4 Points
3GF 8GA
2022/23
DDLD
3 Points
6GF 8GA
Not our best start but not our worst either. Our best goalscoring start but equal worst in terms of goals conceded. Second lowest (but also second highest) points total, but also the season with the fewest number of losses in the first 4 games. Our performance against the Jets was embarrassing, as was the first half vs City, but the rest of our performances have been promising. Overall, it's a pretty typical Uffie start to the season, but we're scoring more goals and taking less losses. Big two games coming up and the opportunity to get some crucial wins before the break.
2019/20
LLLL
0 Points
4GF 8GA
2020/21
LDLW
4 Points
5GF 6GA
2021/22
DWLL
4 Points
3GF 8GA
2022/23
DDLD
3 Points
6GF 8GA
Not our best start but not our worst either. Our best goalscoring start but equal worst in terms of goals conceded. Second lowest (but also second highest) points total, but also the season with the fewest number of losses in the first 4 games. Our performance against the Jets was embarrassing, as was the first half vs City, but the rest of our performances have been promising. Overall, it's a pretty typical Uffie start to the season, but we're scoring more goals and taking less losses. Big two games coming up and the opportunity to get some crucial wins before the break.
Technical reply on "rules": football does not have "rules", it has laws.
I wonder how many people on here have even seen a copy of The Laws of the Game much less read it?
It's difficult to be knowledgeable without any knowledge.
https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules
I wonder how many people on here have even seen a copy of The Laws of the Game much less read it?
It's difficult to be knowledgeable without any knowledge.
https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules
A true game of two halves if I ever saw one. Terrible in the first half, a championship winning team in the second.
In my book Uffie gets a bad mark for his starting XI. Bally is a champ but he would have made more sense as an impact player off the bench. Also Sasse is looking a lot like Uli in his first few matches, bags of talent but unable to make an impact. Hopefully he turns it around, but no way Kraev should have been on the bench to start off with.
Still, he did well to adjust the team so we could get something out of it but as the coach he should have put the best XI on the park
In my book Uffie gets a bad mark for his starting XI. Bally is a champ but he would have made more sense as an impact player off the bench. Also Sasse is looking a lot like Uli in his first few matches, bags of talent but unable to make an impact. Hopefully he turns it around, but no way Kraev should have been on the bench to start off with.
Still, he did well to adjust the team so we could get something out of it but as the coach he should have put the best XI on the park
To change the subject, and this is not a complaint, it is an observation.
Greenacre who now runs the reserves/academy was over there on the bench. Could not see Italiano who is usually very obvious and vocal. has there been a changing of the guard?
Greenacre who now runs the reserves/academy was over there on the bench. Could not see Italiano who is usually very obvious and vocal. has there been a changing of the guard?
A true game of two halves if I ever saw one. Terrible in the first half, a championship winning team in the second.
In my book Uffie gets a bad mark for his starting XI. Bally is a champ but he would have made more sense as an impact player off the bench. Also Sasse is looking a lot like Uli in his first few matches, bags of talent but unable to make an impact. Hopefully he turns it around, but no way Kraev should have been on the bench to start off with.
Still, he did well to adjust the team so we could get something out of it but as the coach he should have put the best XI on the park
In my book Uffie gets a bad mark for his starting XI. Bally is a champ but he would have made more sense as an impact player off the bench. Also Sasse is looking a lot like Uli in his first few matches, bags of talent but unable to make an impact. Hopefully he turns it around, but no way Kraev should have been on the bench to start off with.
Still, he did well to adjust the team so we could get something out of it but as the coach he should have put the best XI on the park
As has been said above. The best XI had failed to produce, and imo not starting them probably was what was needed so that they actually did play how they did once they came on.
To change the subject, and this is not a complaint, it is an observation.
Greenacre who now runs the reserves/academy was over there on the bench. Could not see Italiano who is usually very obvious and vocal. has there been a changing of the guard?
Greenacre who now runs the reserves/academy was over there on the bench. Could not see Italiano who is usually very obvious and vocal. has there been a changing of the guard?
I think after last weeks game everybody was ready to bag out the first half performance of the players as they are this week & giving credit to uffie for his changes but maybe some of the blame is at uffie because last week he got schooled by Pappas who played piscopo as a false nine which took him too much time realise & adjust. The players then did the job when he adjusted the system just like today. So maybe the players who ever he starts or doesn’t are good enough & tactics are just as important as peoples simple reflections of the game.
Disappointing the last two games errors in the first half resulting in goals. The two 2nd halves of the past two games are the best we have played this season does point to that fact that tiring teams can't press as well and so we become more dominant, need our better technical players starting games to be able to play under pressure.
Glad to see ref give yellows for continuous fouls, needs to be done more often as the incentive is just to gamble on high pressing and give away soft foul if press is beaten allowing defence to regroup, needs to be a better balance between risk and reward (for both attacking and defending teams). It's so cynical.
Glad to see ref give yellows for continuous fouls, needs to be done more often as the incentive is just to gamble on high pressing and give away soft foul if press is beaten allowing defence to regroup, needs to be a better balance between risk and reward (for both attacking and defending teams). It's so cynical.
To change the subject, and this is not a complaint, it is an observation.
Greenacre who now runs the reserves/academy was over there on the bench. Could not see Italiano who is usually very obvious and vocal. has there been a changing of the guard?
Greenacre who now runs the reserves/academy was over there on the bench. Could not see Italiano who is usually very obvious and vocal. has there been a changing of the guard?
He had COVID, heard the commentator say it on the reserves stream
KiwiMancunian Steven Ugarkovic's role in the lead-up to this goal 👏 https://t.co/VQdvKKS6u2
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) October 30, 2022
Thought this Ugarkovic progession and pass went under the radar- It didn't go under the radar.
- Ugarkovic is a good player.
- I would just argue that Pennington has played more than half the minutes of the league season so far and we've only now conceded 2 goals with him. Ugarkovic/Lewis has conceded 6 in less than half the season minutes.
- The point is that defensively we're better with Pennington in front of the defence working with either Ugarkovic or Lewis.
To change the subject, and this is not a complaint, it is an observation.
Greenacre who now runs the reserves/academy was over there on the bench. Could not see Italiano who is usually very obvious and vocal. has there been a changing of the guard?
Greenacre who now runs the reserves/academy was over there on the bench. Could not see Italiano who is usually very obvious and vocal. has there been a changing of the guard?
He had COVID, heard the commentator say it on the reserves stream
That clears that up then. Hope he is not too bad and back soon. Also good that Greenie can step up
Biggest/most positive call - Payne moving to CB. Elliott has a lot of defensive weaknesses but if I see one more game of Payne pretending to be a FB, I might jump.
I think Kraev deserves to start over Sasse, and Old deserves to keep his spot going forward.
I remain unconvinced by Zawada.
I think Kraev deserves to start over Sasse, and Old deserves to keep his spot going forward.
I remain unconvinced by Zawada.
Some laughable 'result-dependent' comments in here
Do some people really believe that laughably dire first half performance was coaching genius?
Do some people really believe that laughably dire first half performance was coaching genius?
Biggest/most positive call - Payne moving to CB. Elliott has a lot of defensive weaknesses but if I see one more game of Payne pretending to be a FB, I might jump.
I think Kraev deserves to start over Sasse, and Old deserves to keep his spot going forward.
I remain unconvinced by Zawada.
I think Kraev deserves to start over Sasse, and Old deserves to keep his spot going forward.
I remain unconvinced by Zawada.
Zawada is a weird one for me he does some nice plays in the build-up and makes some good runs but he probs should have at least 2 goals by now and that's what you judge an import striker on.
Some laughable 'result-dependent' comments in here
Do some people really believe that laughably dire first half performance was coaching genius?
Do some people really believe that laughably dire first half performance was coaching genius?
So, by that reckoning, sasse should come good in the next half of football? 😉👍
I get there is a pressure for visa players to hit the ground running, but also need to give him a chance. I don’t see it yet, but that’s not to say it isn’t there.
Biggest/most positive call - Payne moving to CB. Elliott has a lot of defensive weaknesses but if I see one more game of Payne pretending to be a FB, I might jump.
I think Kraev deserves to start over Sasse, and Old deserves to keep his spot going forward.
I remain unconvinced by Zawada.
I think Kraev deserves to start over Sasse, and Old deserves to keep his spot going forward.
I remain unconvinced by Zawada.
Zawada is a weird one for me he does some nice plays in the build-up and makes some good runs but he probs should have at least 2 goals by now and that's what you judge an import striker on.
Also for Sasse first time in an English speaking league, while Uli had been at Chelsea academy or setup somewhere iirc?
Good if he’s upset about coming off- it means he thinks he hasn’t done himself justice and he wants to.
Good if he’s upset about coming off- it means he thinks he hasn’t done himself justice and he wants to.
Biggest/most positive call - Payne moving to CB. Elliott has a lot of defensive weaknesses but if I see one more game of Payne pretending to be a FB, I might jump.
I think Kraev deserves to start over Sasse, and Old deserves to keep his spot going forward.
I remain unconvinced by Zawada.
I think Kraev deserves to start over Sasse, and Old deserves to keep his spot going forward.
I remain unconvinced by Zawada.
Zawada is a weird one for me he does some nice plays in the build-up and makes some good runs but he probs should have at least 2 goals by now and that's what you judge an import striker on.
To be fair wherever 26 yr old Zawada has been with his senior football, he hasn't been prolific at all. Yes you'd hope he does score a few, but he's also a point of difference with his height, and ability to bring others into the game.
yeah for mine Zawada is here for more than goal scoring, he is the tall target man to give defenders something else to think abut other than quick throughball strikers. We want goals from him but he creates so much more by just being there.
Zwanda is quality IMO - I don't know if he will be a scoring machine, but he is very strong on/off the ball, moves well and has a good touch. One of the reasons Barbs kept finding room in behind to run into, was because Zwanda's movement was pulling the defence out of shape.
Proud of the Phoenix, being able to come from 2 goals down is a positive sign.
Especially considering when we conceded first last season, it pretty much guaranteed a loss for us.
Especially considering when we conceded first last season, it pretty much guaranteed a loss for us.
Proud of the Phoenix, being able to come from 2 goals down is a positive sign.
Especially considering when we conceded first last season, it pretty much guaranteed a loss for us.
Especially considering when we conceded first last season, it pretty much guaranteed a loss for us.
Pretty sure the commentators said it was since 2020 that we didn't lose a game after conceding first
Proud of the Phoenix, being able to come from 2 goals down is a positive sign.
Especially considering when we conceded first last season, it pretty much guaranteed a loss for us.
Especially considering when we conceded first last season, it pretty much guaranteed a loss for us.
Pretty sure the commentators said it was since 2020 that we didn't lose a game after conceding first
1-1 draw against Brisbane in August 2020. Hoops scored
Talay needs to figure out how to get this team performing.
Being a foul mouthed alpha control freak on the sidelines is all well and good, but doesn't come across well when, after years in the job, your team are still not playing with a cohesive structure.
Omitting three experienced pros today comes across as insecure. These guys are like gold in an otherwise young and frankly timid group.
The second half was excellent. More of that please.
Being a foul mouthed alpha control freak on the sidelines is all well and good, but doesn't come across well when, after years in the job, your team are still not playing with a cohesive structure.
Omitting three experienced pros today comes across as insecure. These guys are like gold in an otherwise young and frankly timid group.
The second half was excellent. More of that please.
I read it as Uffie saying: "unless you guys start showing something better, you'll be turning out for the WeeNix next weekend".
I may be of course wrong, but I read it that way. Others may have a different impression.
Wondering if people agree with me here - I think Ufuk and the club by extension should be under deeper scrutiny this season, given the choices made r.e. squad construction.
Adding three visa players + Kosta into a front four that already contains at minimum two quality A-League starters still isn't a move I agree with at all, especially when it results in our most expensive squad ever.
This better turn out well, and he better have a plan - I'd hate for him to intentionally be throwing different lineups out there and hoping something sticks
the club and manager are always under scrutiny,
You would think a performance like this would be the catalyst for our season.
the club and manager are always under scrutiny,