WPM R6 vs CCM | Tue 5th April | 9:05pm | SS7

Referee: Daniel Elder
Assistants: Lance Greenshields & Brad Wright
Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas
VAR: Alex King

CCM: P13 W3 D5 L5
WEL: P13 W6 D3 L4

CCM are starting to find some good form, whilst our season has stalled. Hopefully the boys have been working hard on the training pitch this week, fixing up the issues from the last couple of matches.

Be interesting to see if Hooper is on the bench or too jetlagged.
Hope he's flying first class and gets a good nap in as we need him. 

Sunday the 26th or Monday 27th??

kiwikev

Sunday the 26th or Monday 27th??

 
Tomorrow so Monday 27th

Ryan

Be interesting to see if Hooper is on the bench or too jetlagged.
Hope he's flying first class and gets a good nap in as we need him. 

Bloody good of the club to manage players with humanity during the pandemic. Hope it is smart management and Hooper brings even more goals from here on in. 

kiwikev

Sunday the 26th or Monday 27th??

Whoops, the time of year has caught me out early. Yes, the 27th is a Monday. My bad.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/127387816/wellington-phoenix-to-lose-top-keeper-oli-sail-for-six-to-eight-weeks

Talay said the Phoenix had to rely on academy products because “of Covid and not being able to bring visa players into New Zealand.

“It has obviously been a big challenge for us, but it’s an opportunity for these guys to show what they can do. Whether they sink or swim, it’s up to them.’’

For me, the biggest thing with this young group is consistency, that for me is the key for our season. I think we’ve seen it in patches, just not enough through 90 minutes. When the expectation drops a little bit, the players start to rise to the occasion, but I think they’ve got to do that from the first minute all the way through to the 95th minute of the game.’’

The Phoenix have missed Cameron Devlin’s energy in central midfield, and Talay said he had had “a few conversations with our sixes [captain Alex Rufer and Clayton Lewis] about my expectations there, with and without the ball.

“They know the role, but they need to be consistent as well. They are probably a little older than our younger ones, but experience-wise don’t have as many games under their belt as well. For me, I’m hoping that the more they play, the more consistency they bring to the team.’’

KO Time is 18:05 not 17:45?

Screenshot_20211226-191217_Firefox.jpg 53.44 KB

Ryan

Be interesting to see if Hooper is on the bench or too jetlagged.
Hope he's flying first class and gets a good nap in as we need him. 

Wellington Phoenix squad: 3. Matthew BOZINOVSKI, 5. James MCGARRY, 6. Tim PAYNE, 8. Ben OLD, 9. David BALL, 10. Reno PISCOPO, 11. Jaushua SOTIRIO, 12. Luka PRSO, 13. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 16. Louis FENTON, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 18. Ben WAINE, 19. Sam SUTTON, 20. Oli SAIL (gk), 21. Joshua LAWS, 23. Clayton LEWIS, 30. Henry GRAY, 31. Kurtis MOGG, 32. George OTT, 33. Finn SURMAN, 34. Jackson MANUEL, 40. Alex PAULSEN (gk), 43. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 88. Gary HOOPER

Unavailable: 20. Oli SAIL (gk) (injured), 88. Gary HOOPER (personal reasons) 

Looking forward to the game. Its at a decent time for once. Hoping we can surprise the Mariners with a strong performance, but we are underdogs so my expectations are on the lower side

There are no excuses. We really need to fire up for this game - right from kick off. Another lacklustre performance from our midfield is unacceptable. They need to be giving 110%. 

We are basically two good imports short of being a competitive mid table team at least, which is very frustrating, especially at the back which has traditionally been a strong area for us and isn't currently. But yeah until they arrive everyone just needs to really lift and hopefully no midweek FFA cup games might help with this.

TreeFiddy

KO Time is 18:05 not 17:45?

Screenshot_20211226-191217_Firefox.jpg 53.44 KB

KO is at 6:05pm but the coverage on SS2 starts at 5:45pm

Got a feeling that today is a must win. Even though it’s early in the season, we’re already 4 points off 6th place and if we can’t beat a team we beat (quite well) jn beginning of the year than it  will no doubt dent confidence in our young players. Need to find form and I think this is the perfect opponent to do so. Big big game I think this one

Performance wise we are miles below Apia Leichhardt and they got done 6-0 by CCM, If we can at least get a point out of this game ill be happy. Our backup Keeper did well last week and i can just see him doing even better in this match.

Probs not a bad thing for us it being postponed, gives Hooper enough time to be fit for the next game 

Not too bothered by this to be honest, aside from not having footy to tune in to when I get home... Brings us closer to the transfer opening day too. Or do we still have to wait for 38% in order to play Gael?

Didn't WU play last night minus 8 of their contracted players due to covid? 

TBH, I'd rather take on a weakened Mariners now.

That sucks. This won’t be the last game postponed, soon Omicron will spiral the league even more out of control.
I was so looking forward to the game, damn.

Good news, means Hooper should be available, and potentially this game gets replayed later in the season after the January window.

Ryan

Good news, means Hooper should be available, and potentially this game gets replayed later in the season after the January window.

Has he returned? Was due back yesterday no?

WanderingSheep

Ryan

Good news, means Hooper should be available, and potentially this game gets replayed later in the season after the January window.

Has he returned? Was due back yesterday no?

No idea but according to google he was due back today.

Ryan

WanderingSheep

Ryan

Good news, means Hooper should be available, and potentially this game gets replayed later in the season after the January window.

Has he returned? Was due back yesterday no?

No idea but according to google he was due back today.

 Due back today, then has to do 72 hrs self isolation & return a negative test before he can rejoin the squad.

YoungHeart

Not too bothered by this to be honest, aside from not having footy to tune in to when I get home... Brings us closer to the transfer opening day too. Or do we still have to wait for 38% in order to play Gael?

Nope. As soon as he is registered on Jan 14th, he is available to play. So the  postponement isn't terrible for us.

RR

Ryan

WanderingSheep

Ryan

Good news, means Hooper should be available, and potentially this game gets replayed later in the season after the January window.

Has he returned? Was due back yesterday no?

No idea but according to google he was due back today.

 Due back today, then has to do 72 hrs self isolation & return a negative test before he can rejoin the squad.

They got rid of the 72 hour isolation rule last week, now you just need to isolate until you get a negative covid test.

Ryan

Good news, means Hooper should be available, and potentially this game gets replayed later in the season after the January window.

 
Could have a heavy schedule if games in January and March are rescheduled to allow for guys to go to UAE/Qatar for All Whites games

Fark, was looking forward to this.

Unpopular opinion:. Getting really sick of this COVID thing.

Noticed that the basketball refused to reschedule Breakers games because of covid. Thought the A League might do the same for similar reasons ( to avoid possible congestion of games later to catch up). Would have put onus on clubs to take protective measures to protect their players so they would have enough to field teams in games.

carlind

Ryan

Good news, means Hooper should be available, and potentially this game gets replayed later in the season after the January window.

 
Could have a heavy schedule if games in January and March are rescheduled to allow for guys to go to UAE/Qatar for All Whites games

Yes odds on now that January will be a congested fixture list for the Nix. Melb City FFA Cup game plus this CCM league game, plus likely some other A League all postponed.

A League is to play through both the Jan & March FIFA windows, which will help.

If I was Talay I'd say no to Hay, re releasing any Nix players for Jan window. One of leading contenders Sail will be out injured anyway. But as part of some deal, agree to release some guys Hay wants for the 2 OFC tourney pool games pre March window commencing. 

If Hay wants to some contact, on grass time with Nix players (or other A League guys) earlier, he should fly over to Aus early-mid Jan, for 1-2 training days/meetings, before he on flies to UAE for the Jordan/Uzbekistan friendlies. He could do the same in late Feb/early March, organising a short camp in Aussie around players A League commitments.

What do you mean by Talay saying no to Hay?

Feverish

What do you mean by Talay saying no to Hay?

Simples.

Uffy - "Danny what about you don't call up any of my players for Jan FIFA window. With FFA Cup, and postponed ALM games, we look like having a jolly busy time in late Jan. 

As a comprise I agree to release whoever you want from mid March (so outside FIFA window) for the March OFC tourney, knowing you could be scrambling to field a strong side for first 2, even 3 pool games.

Meanwhile you are welcome over here in NSW, to see our Kiwi boys in action on the training paddock, hold evening sessions on how AWs are going to play in March etc etc. Knowing that you are familiar with a lot of the boys from Tokyo"

Danny - "Deal"

Danny: ‘GGF’

Feverish

Danny: ‘GGF’

Nah. Talay has stated he's definitely prepared to look at releasing players early for that OFC tourney if it helps AWs get to Qatar. And why wouldn't he.

As it stands with Panama in that 4th spot for CONCACAF, AWs are maybe a 40% chance of getting to Qatar. They have to get through 6 football games for that to happen, but winning the OFC tourney and then that Intercontinental Playoff - they are a chance. An opportunity for their slice of Singers in Jan 1982 or ROF in 2009.

Qualifying for Qatar would be a huge boost for NZ football, and if they win come June 13th/14th, likely to be the NZ sporting highlight of 2022. Some folks may even grab a BBQ & write a song. It's gonna likely be a tense, nervous watch for sure.

Meanwhile Nix are zero chance of winning A League this season. Another campaign playing in front of a few hundred folks in the Gong, with seemingly virtually nil prospect of any home games this season. Struggling on the field, cash strapped off the field and now having games postponed as Omicron does it's thing. I'm sure for many fans it's sadly feeling a bit mehhh again.

So yeah come March why wouldn't Uffy help out Hay if he can.

Ok you’ve lost me on this now. But whatever horse trading goes on between coaches - the players have a voice too.

Feverish

Ok you’ve lost me on this now. But whatever horse trading goes on between coaches - the players have a voice too.

I thought you were telling Hay to 'GGF' - but re reading maybe you were saying Hay would respond that way to Talay. 

But whichever the recent intel has been the relationship between Nix & NZF has never been better, helped no doubt by them working together on the Nix Women's team project.

And AV quoted Talay as saying he was prepared to help Hay and AWs come that March tourney. That's regarding first 2 pool games being outside March FIFA window. 

Be dumb of Hay to damage that relationship by forcing Nix to release players for the Jan FIFA window, if Uffy wasn't keen. And I think he won't be keen if Nix now have like a congested fixture list of 3-4 games through that Jan FIFA window.

So yes a horse trade. And surely if you were a Nix player (or Ingham or Barba or Rojas) you'd prefer to play in the OFC tourney (first 2 pool games), with WC qualification on the line - rather than Jan friendlies. That's if it was an, either or scenario.

Yeah I meant the later.

Decline the Jan friendlies though (if
given permission) and you may never see the squad again if others take their chances. There are no dead certs in the Nix ranks after the latest friendlies.

Feverish

Yeah I meant the later.

Decline the Jan friendlies though (if
given permission) and you may never see the squad again if others take their chances. There are no dead certs in the Nix ranks after the latest friendlies.

Hay is highly likely to need an enlarged 30-31 man squad for March, with numerous A listers missing the first 2-3 games. That's when Danny will definitely be seeking A League reinforcements 

January will be a normal 21-23 man outfit.