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

Focus on the positive, keep that narrative going while your work on the thing that needs fixing. I missed the game so can only really judge by what I've read and the stats.
we had more shots, 8 to 5, but none of ours were on target, 2 or MacArthur's were.
55% possession, 8 to 10 fouls. 2 of ours gaining yellows. 
Looks to me like our front men didnt take the chances created and one of the two shots on goal from the opposition was decent and it was late in the game. So one of the classic defensive games where both teams negate each other.

Season is 5 games old, so still 21 games to go. We are currently 8th on 5 points behi9nd Macarthur on 7. 
Adelaide is up next (H), they are looking good so that will be tough, then
Auckland away, so another tough one, could well be low scoring.
We finish December with two home games against Jets and Central Coast and a trip to Melbourne.

5 games to close out the year, 2 are winnable, and the others we can take points away from.

If by the game on the 11th January (Adelaide) we have 14-16 points then we'll be well on the way.

Keep the faith people, life is too short to be angry-sad at your football club.

I watched the game... the football played by the Nix is a very hard watch.
The highline is probably the only change from last years aimless football.
The scorline flattered the Nix, Josh came to the rescue on more than one occasion.

theprof

Focus on the positive, keep that narrative going while your work on the thing that needs fixing. I missed the game so can only really judge by what I've read and the stats.
we had more shots, 8 to 5, but none of ours were on target, 2 or MacArthur's were.
55% possession, 8 to 10 fouls. 2 of ours gaining yellows. 
Looks to me like our front men didnt take the chances created and one of the two shots on goal from the opposition was decent and it was late in the game. So one of the classic defensive games where both teams negate each other.

Season is 5 games old, so still 21 games to go. We are currently 8th on 5 points behi9nd Macarthur on 7. 
Adelaide is up next (H), they are looking good so that will be tough, then
Auckland away, so another tough one, could well be low scoring.
We finish December with two home games against Jets and Central Coast and a trip to Melbourne.

5 games to close out the year, 2 are winnable, and the others we can take points away from.

If by the game on the 11th January (Adelaide) we have 14-16 points then we'll be well on the way.

Keep the faith people, life is too short to be angry-sad at your football club.

The stats don’t paint the full picture of how much in control the Bulls were especially in the first half.. 

theprof

Focus on the positive, keep that narrative going while your work on the thing that needs fixing. I missed the game so can only really judge by what I've read and the stats.
we had more shots, 8 to 5, but none of ours were on target, 2 or MacArthur's were.
55% possession, 8 to 10 fouls. 2 of ours gaining yellows. 
Looks to me like our front men didnt take the chances created and one of the two shots on goal from the opposition was decent and it was late in the game. So one of the classic defensive games where both teams negate each other.

Season is 5 games old, so still 21 games to go. We are currently 8th on 5 points behi9nd Macarthur on 7. 
Adelaide is up next (H), they are looking good so that will be tough, then
Auckland away, so another tough one, could well be low scoring.
We finish December with two home games against Jets and Central Coast and a trip to Melbourne.

5 games to close out the year, 2 are winnable, and the others we can take points away from.

If by the game on the 11th January (Adelaide) we have 14-16 points then we'll be well on the way.

Keep the faith people, life is too short to be angry-sad at your football club.

Stats are meaningless. 
We were dire.

I would argue that we played with much less conviction against Macarthur than against A-FC, let alone Brisbane or CCM. It could be the absence of Payne, who we all knew is quite hard to replace.  But it does not explain lack of service to Armiento, and to Eze, in the game against Macarthur. 

Mainland FC

I would argue that we played with much less conviction against Macarthur than against A-FC, let alone Brisbane or CCM. It could be the absence of Payne, who we all knew is quite hard to replace.  But it does not explain lack of service to Armiento, and to Eze, in the game against Macarthur. 

yeah, probably the most flat performance of the season so far.

theprof

Focus on the positive, keep that narrative going while your work on the thing that needs fixing. I missed the game so can only really judge by what I've read and the stats.
we had more shots, 8 to 5, but none of ours were on target, 2 or MacArthur's were.
55% possession, 8 to 10 fouls. 2 of ours gaining yellows. 
Looks to me like our front men didnt take the chances created and one of the two shots on goal from the opposition was decent and it was late in the game. So one of the classic defensive games where both teams negate each other.

Season is 5 games old, so still 21 games to go. We are currently 8th on 5 points behi9nd Macarthur on 7. 
Adelaide is up next (H), they are looking good so that will be tough, then
Auckland away, so another tough one, could well be low scoring.
We finish December with two home games against Jets and Central Coast and a trip to Melbourne.

5 games to close out the year, 2 are winnable, and the others we can take points away from.

If by the game on the 11th January (Adelaide) we have 14-16 points then we'll be well on the way.

Keep the faith people, life is too short to be angry-sad at your football club.

Yeah nah, I watched the game. Struggled to find positives at all.

Life's also too short to accept shark football.

Love your optimism theprof, but sorry, YoungHeart put it perfectly.

YoungHeartHM

imanixsupporter

Something's gotta give alright. We gotta give Chiefy another contract extension. Nix fans have short memories, he did well in his first season and he is going to get us back to that level any day now.

mykey

For all the millions the owners have pumped in to the club including all the off field investment and academy etc they must have left the stadium yesterday thinking where has it all gone wrong? 

Average football, poor result, minimal improvement so unsurprisingly poor crowds and poor atmosphere. Somethings gotta give. Last season was a warning 

By my account he's got 2 weeks - Adelaide, and then the derby in Auckland.

The promise when Chiefy was granted the extension was that the derbies would be a very firm yardstick. 

As it stands, and as much as I try and be optimistic even in the tough times (Because they can't go on forever can they?) I have precisely zero hope that we will get anything out of the next two games... That's zilch/zip/nada. 

I haven't felt this downbeat in quite a while.

It's a lot more easy being positive when you haven't watched the game!

I felt somewhat optimistic going into the game, given we brought the fight to Auckland FC despite the devastating result. Thought we would have a bit of a chip on our shoulder and bring the game to Macarthur, but we were flat, boring and all round pretty dour. 

After this game, I've lost a lot of optimism. 

theprof

Focus on the positive, keep that narrative going while your work on the thing that needs fixing. I missed the game so can only really judge by what I've read and the stats.
we had more shots, 8 to 5, but none of ours were on target, 2 or MacArthur's were.
55% possession, 8 to 10 fouls. 2 of ours gaining yellows. 
Looks to me like our front men didnt take the chances created and one of the two shots on goal from the opposition was decent and it was late in the game. So one of the classic defensive games where both teams negate each other.

Season is 5 games old, so still 21 games to go. We are currently 8th on 5 points behi9nd Macarthur on 7. 
Adelaide is up next (H), they are looking good so that will be tough, then
Auckland away, so another tough one, could well be low scoring.
We finish December with two home games against Jets and Central Coast and a trip to Melbourne.

5 games to close out the year, 2 are winnable, and the others we can take points away from.

If by the game on the 11th January (Adelaide) we have 14-16 points then we'll be well on the way.

Keep the faith people, life is too short to be angry-sad at your football club.

Sorry theprof BUT, like you i like to always be optimistic and positive about the Phoenix. How ever there are times in life when a line needs to be drawn and things brought to a conclusion. We are rapidly approaching that time, the Club said after last season there were certain things that were needed to be achieved. If in a couple of weeks we havnt surely they need to be doing something about it.

I don’t know if it was Dome just being Dome, but in interview on the YF pod, talking about last season and the decision around offering Chief a new contract, he clearly said that the Chief has been told that “he must beat AFC”. 

Now I assume that was in the context of a match verses the season as a whole.

The question is if the Nix lose next weeks match and then the derby, is that the end of Chief and Dome will act?

From memory Dome was adamant about beating AFC, although I think in reality it meant be competitive with AFC, which we were in the 1st derby, having said that if we dont win one of the 3 derbies this year we clearly havent moved forward.
I would say that the club has given Italiano this season to show that he has worked out how to be more positive and can secure a top 4 position. If he fails in this then he wont be back next season - I cannot imagine welnix sacking a coach mid (early) season.

One caveat I'd state is that Rufer arrived late only the day before the MAC game.
Likely didn't even train with the Nix in the leadup.
He is the beating heart of this team, the whole club even.

He's even more important as the follow me guy, with his good mate and fellow gnarly veteran Payne out.

Chiefy will leaning on Roofs to help him get a response this week. Optimstic that there will be at least more passion, and fight against Adelaide.

But if it's similarily very flat, and no shots on target until the 85th minute - then yes agree Chiefy will start being on very thin ice. If Greeny now has his badges to be an ALM head coach, then why not sack Chiefy, when you have someone at the club who knows the squad well and can step in for 2nd half of the season. The next 4 weeks to Xmas will decide Italiano's fate.

Lets see if there is a response this week.

Mainland FC

I would argue that we played with much less conviction against Macarthur than against A-FC, let alone Brisbane or CCM. It could be the absence of Payne, who we all knew is quite hard to replace.  But it does not explain lack of service to Armiento, and to Eze, in the game against Macarthur. 

My theory is that given how much criticism we copped for the high line, Chief was desperate to make sure we didn’t concede early. 

When we should have been trying to score and win from the start, including passing to Armiento.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360643945/wellington-phoenix-make-decision-coaches-futures-very-soon

This is another good listen, regarding expectation on the new coach back when they were recruiting (pre confirming chiefy extension)

AucklandPhoenix

I don’t know if it was Dome just being Dome, but in interview on the YF pod, talking about last season and the decision around offering Chief a new contract, he clearly said that the Chief has been told that “he must beat AFC”. 

Now I assume that was in the context of a match verses the season as a whole.

The question is if the Nix lose next weeks match and then the derby, is that the end of Chief and Dome will act?

mykey

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360643945/wellington-phoenix-make-decision-coaches-futures-very-soon

This is another good listen, regarding expecting on the new coach 

AucklandPhoenix

I don’t know if it was Dome just being Dome, but in interview on the YF pod, talking about last season and the decision around offering Chief a new contract, he clearly said that the Chief has been told that “he must beat AFC”. 

Now I assume that was in the context of a match verses the season as a whole.

The question is if the Nix lose next weeks match and then the derby, is that the end of Chief and Dome will act?

That was in April this year. Right now it is late November.  
Slowly I am forming an opinion that we can achieve a lot with a good coach and a average (mixed) bunch of players, or an average coach and a very good bunch of players.   The last season, and the start of this season, make me think we have both an average coach and an average (mixed) bunch of players.

I agree Mainland. After watching the last game and seeing attacking moves repeatedly break down because many players couldnt hit an accurate pass confirmed for me the lack of player quality.
The injuries certainly have not helped. The loss of Payne and Ishigi is huge. Plus we have have got zero from the AL veterans Musielic and Retre. On paper our first 11 looks ok. But the injuries mean we are having to bring teenagers off the bench to change the match.
To be positive have played some nice football at times this season. We have also got three good recruits in Eze, Armiento and James. Also the likes of LKH and Hughes have stepped up.
But if we keep having to field lots of the kids at the same time then this season is going to get ugly

Sat through the Paramount plus highlights (somehow) The moment Caceres slipped Gržan clean through was absurd: a disjointed line, bodies pushed forward, and no cover behind. It was under-10s defending.. that play is super concerning and shows a lack of understanding/communicated back there

What time is the game this weekend?

5pm