WPM R5 vs Macarthur FC | Sat 22nd Nov | 5:00pm | RoF / SS3 & Sky Open

Hopefully Manjrekar James is back for this one. We really could use his height to counter act Macarthur playing Harry Sawyer as a targetman up front.

Wont be easy.. Bulls are very unpredictable but have plenty of weapons who can hurt the high line in Anthony Caceras, Grzan, the Mexican Duran is a good player they do struggle defensively and are very slow back there, if Eze and Armiento can get in behind, it will be trouble for them  

Any progress notes on our injured players?

I think Macarthur, like us, might be one of those teams floating around 5th-9th this season - so will be a good test to see where we are actually at. Agreed, we need James back ASAP. 

Hopefully there wont be any post derby syndrome this season. I think we really struggled mentally last season.....often for quite a few matches post derbies. Chiefy seemed to down play this years game saying it was just another match for three points.
Hopefully we get good news on the injured players. James is very important for us but it would be good to see the likes of Walker as well

I hope Rufer comes back with a bit of energy left from his AWs trip.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

I hope Rufer comes back with a bit of energy left from his AWs trip.

Love your optimism but they play tomorrow then again Saturday  after travel hope he has more than a bit left in him.

Wellington Phoenix v Macarthur Bulls
Saturday, November 22 – Sky Stadium – 3:00pm AEDT

Wellington Phoenix squad: 
1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Manjrekar JAMES, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 12. Dan EDWARDS, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE, 23. Luke SUPYK, 24. Xuan LOKE, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 37. Anaru CASSIDY, 39. Jayden SMITH, 40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk)

(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 4. Manjrekar JAMES (returning from injury)
Outs: 48. Mac MUNRO (omitted)
Unavailable:  6. Tim PAYNE (injured), 8. Paulo RETRE (injured), 9. Hideki ISHIGE (injured), 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC (injured), 19. Nathan WALKER (injured)

Macarthur Bulls squad:
1. Alex ROBINSON, 3. Damien DA SILVA, 5. Matthew JURMAN, 6. Tomislav USKOK, 7. Sime GRZAN, 8. Luke VICKERY, 10. Anthony CACERES, 11. BERNARDO, 12. Filip KURTO, 13. Rafael DURAN MARTINEZ, 14. Kristian POPOVIC, 17. Oliver RANDAZZO, 18. Walter SCOTT, 19. Harry POLITIDIS, 22. Liam ROSE, 25. Callum TALBOT, 26. Luke BRATTAN, 28. Harrison SAWYER, 29. Zane HELWEH, 33. Dong-won JI

(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 11. BERNARDO (return from injury), 14. Kristian POPOVIC (promoted)
Outs: 23. Frans DELI (omitted), 32. Will MCKAY (omitted), 35. Henrique OLIVEIRA (U17 Joeys duty)
Unavailable: 9. Chris IKONOMIDIS – injured, 24. Dean BOSNJAK – injured, 31. Sebastian KRSLOVIC – injured

James is back, yes! Even if his minutes will be limited, it's a good boost and important return.

Hopefully Retre, Mileusnic, and Walker aren't far off.

Game day, Fire up. 

PS. Where has the sun gone?  I was assured it was going to be sunny today.  

Oh sweet, this game is on today! I thought it was tomorrow!! Start smoldering fire chickens!!! 

Cassidy to start today, if Rufer isn't in starting shape after arriving from New York yesterday? 

Wow the excitement about this game is really palpable

imanixsupporter

Wow the excitement about this game is really palpable

Haha so true. It’s a ghost town around here at the moment! 

Looking forward to it. Come on you Nixx

Beauty of a day, looking forward to this one. Cmon lads

Hopefully the international break has given us a chance to work on a few things - Most notably that high line! 

Feels like its been talked about incessantly over social media and other avenues over the past several weeks. The intent is right, but the execution has been lacking. Hopefully having James back will give us the direction, leadership and a bit of stability at the back for this one. 

I would imagine there would be a few slight tweaks to how high the line sits overall as well. 

COYN!

Will Rufer start. I'm guessing he will.

Rufer starts. Sheridan over Loke at RWB. First time Hughes & James play together, I think?

Screenshot_20251122_160157_Instagram.jpg 744.67 KB

and so does James! that is great new. Looks like Sheridan is moved to RWB, I imagine Hughes moving to RCB. Getting pretty keen on this one!!

Just got home from work, looking forward to the game, any idea on numbers?

No LBS in the squad.

Excited to see Hughes and James starting together for the first time this season - They looked good together in the preseason game against CCM so hopefully they can carry that through to today!

🔥🔥COYN🔥🔥

mykey

imanixsupporter

Wow the excitement about this game is really palpable

Haha so true. It’s a ghost town around here at the moment! 

23 thread posts, on match day. less than an hour from kick off

Football focus has been on the AWs (plus other WC qualifiers around the globe) this week let’s be honest.

Rather a shock having no LBS in the squad.

Glad Loke has been dropped. There has been insane hype on these forums for a guy who should be no better than 4th choice RB for us. 

reg22

mykey

imanixsupporter

Wow the excitement about this game is really palpable

Haha so true. It’s a ghost town around here at the moment! 

23 thread posts, on match day. less than an hour from kick off

all the angst from 2 weeks ago has tired people out! A few were still in that thread this week 🤣

I for one just avoided the forum for 2 weeks. Too disappointed after that last result

imanixsupporter

Glad Loke has been dropped. There has been insane hype on these forums for a guy who should be no better than 4th choice RB for us. 

He’s done well for a guy having responsibility dumped on him. 
 
I’m  glad to see that there’s still competition there and, unlike last season when some guys like Walker and LBS were given our whole attack at points, he’s not being put under too much pressure too early. 

And Sheridan has played everywhere but his preferred position so it’ll be good to see him there too. 

Right. Fire 🔥 Up! 

We’re the Phoenix, the mighty Phoenix! 
We’re going to score one more than you! 

Let’s go boys

It is pretty quiet in the stadium.

Looks like this could be an all time low crowd on TV

zonknz

It is pretty quiet in the stadium.

I prescribe 2 Red Bulls, a half pint (maybe a Southern Comfort shot if necessary) and ‘Twist and Shout’ followed by ‘Oh Wellington!’ and a couple of early goals for us.

Since2007

Looks like this could be an all time low crowd on TV

 Bugger

My Sky is freezing occasionally, is it happening to anyone else??

Since April 2024, the Nix have had exactly two wins at Sky Stadium. It is a miracle that anybody turns up

Since2007

Looks like this could be an all time low crowd on TV

Pleased James is back. It'll be good to have an adult in the backline.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Rather a shock having no LBS in the squad.

Burn-out? He's still a kid.

COYN! Love a bit of Saturday nix!! 

This ref isn’t giving Eze anything….