The only concern that comes to mind in this game is whether our confidence has been shot by Auckland. Losing to them twice in a few weeks is bound to cause some issues.
I watch a lot of MacArthur as my brother in law plays for them, and I have watched them since pre season and their cup run. They’re an interesting team and well coached.. jakolis, drew, Germain brattan are all very good players on their day, they score a lot of goals often from counter attacks and using their pacey wingers, but are not consistent and make plenty of mistakes from the back.. this won’t be easy.
I watch a lot of MacArthur as my brother plays for them, and I have watched them since pre season and their cup run. They’re an interesting team and well coached.. jakolis, drew, Germain brattan are all very good players on their day, they score a lot of goals often from counter attacks and using their pacey wingers, but are not consistent and make plenty of mistakes from the back.. this won’t be easy.
Time to start Rojas. Take him off when he gets tired. Hopefully he inspires and departs when we are ahead. Otherwise, coming on later if the opp is ahead, as in the last 2 games then they are defensive minded, and it makes his creative job harder
Brother in law* my apologiess, former Wellington Phoenix left back, Walter Scott :) coochiee
Nixieboys222
I watch a lot of MacArthur as my brother plays for them, and I have watched them since pre season and their cup run. They’re an interesting team and well coached.. jakolis, drew, Germain brattan are all very good players on their day, they score a lot of goals often from counter attacks and using their pacey wingers, but are not consistent and make plenty of mistakes from the back.. this won’t be easy.
Reflecting on the weekends game, and tbh it could go in either the Auckland thread or this one. But I think if we're looking to be more physical in our approach, then we need to tweak our formation. Auckland out-muscled us for large parts, and we were somewhat naive to fall into that trap - it suited them far better than what it did for us, at least for 70 odd minutes anyway. Only in the final 15-20 minutes did we really try and play, helped by the fact they dropped to a deeper, pretty flaccid 5-4-1 (but hey, they'd done the damage before that already).
My slight tweak for the physical encounters, I would look to set up in a 4-3-2-1, or Christmas Tree formation.
Back four as is, with Sutton and Payne providing the width, and demanding a lot more of them both going forward and doubling back when called upon.
The contentious call being a midfield three of Rufer, Nagasawa and Piper. Ruf's and Piper providing the combative element that I think would stack up better in a tight and physical encounter. Allows Nagasawa to try and get on the ball and dictate play a bit more given the physical component isn't the standout strength of his game
Ishige and Rojas ahead of them, and Barba obviously leading the line.
We also need to be doing everything we can to get Rojas starting - even if it's 60 minutes or whatever initially. Thought he was lively and really up for it when he came on. He needs to be on the pitch a whole lot more if we're to make a real fist of this season.
**Disregard Sheridan at CB** Having a mare today. Updated graphic down the page ⬇️
I thought I'd read, Chiefy saying Rojas won't be starting games until 2025. Something about him arriving at the Nix, after barely playing for 2 years and so being a long way off being match fit enough to start.
I thought I'd read, Chiefy saying Rojas won't be starting games until 2025. Something about him arriving at the Nix, after barely playing for 2 years and so being a long way off being match fit enough to start.
That's disappointing but at the same time we've only got 3 games to go before 2025. Unless he meant April 2025, of course...
It's a shame because you can really feel the team click when he comes on. The whole idea of having the team set up around him must be somewhat true. It just sucks that we don't seem to have a concrete plan until that becomes a possibility, though. It's frustrating that we have to wait so long to see if the potential does actually materialise.
Have decided after many weeks of wondering to ask the man (Ball) directly (via insta) if and when we can expect to seem him on the pitch, will advise if he responds.
He responded! Short version, he's fit and ready to go, not happy he's not being selected and wants to get involved to make a difference. Personal opinion is that right now he'd be better than #11 Colakovski
Agree on the lineup apart from Piper. You gotta get Al-Taay or Retre in there to help rufer.
Also what's up with Ball? After last weeks performance I'd love to see him on the bench.
Should have stated this should be a setup if we want to narrow the play and get more combative/competitive in that midfield (which is where we lost it on Saturday). That's probably the lineup I'd go with if we were to play Auckland again tomorrow as an example. Went with Piper purely for the physicality aspect. If you're going to barrel opponents and get niggly, then I think he will give you that, well, moreso than other options we have at present anyway. He's no shrinking violet in that respect.
Add's a little bit of height compared to other options too, which I like. He's no giant, but is a good athlete, and is one I'd like to see a bit more of tbh. He did well in the 2nd half at RB v Victory, but I think we're at a point where we have become a little bit conflicted as to what position/s he gets put in. The follies of being a utility player I guess.
I like Retre in the midfield, but I don't think physicality is necessarily his go to. Not to say he doesn't have a big part to play for us, I just don't think he fits that style, compared to his other qualities.
Also, not sure if Al-Taay has pissed in Chiefy's coffee or not, but I can't be the only one on here to think he has been a bit hard done by by not featuring more prominently this season. Maybe that's just me though.
Yeh there are questions over Ball and Al-Taay. The only answer is surely that they aren’t capable of doing what Chief wants in the system.
Colakovski is covering a lot of ground box to box, even if he isn’t the creative talent as of yet that Old or Kraev were. Perhaps this is what he wants? Someone who can shut down runners in transition, but also provide an extra outlet in the box to be found by Marco or Payne?
Have decided after many weeks of wondering to ask the man (Ball) directly (via insta) if and when we can expect to seem him on the pitch, will advise if he responds.
He responded! Short version, he's fit and ready to go, not happy he's not being selected and wants to get involved to make a difference. Personal opinion is that right now he'd be better than #11 Colakovski
That last part - is that your personal opinion or his?
I’m pretty sure the first 30 minutes are about the same long as the last 30 minutes, with the added bonus that if it’s too much you can replace them, or if they look like they’re coping ok you can leave them on for an extra 5, or 10, or 15…which would bring them to half time where they could have a bit of a kip and then get another 10 minutes in. Imagine what that might do for building up someone’s match fitness.
Have decided after many weeks of wondering to ask the man (Ball) directly (via insta) if and when we can expect to seem him on the pitch, will advise if he responds.
He responded! Short version, he's fit and ready to go, not happy he's not being selected and wants to get involved to make a difference. Personal opinion is that right now he'd be better than #11 Colakovski
I watched Piper at at practice play up front and I thought he looked very good there. Reminded me of the Sheriff. Didn't get pushed around. Al-Taay to start instead of Piper in that position. I'd be tempted to partner Keegan & Toshack (Kosta with Piper.).
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
Have decided after many weeks of wondering to ask the man (Ball) directly (via insta) if and when we can expect to seem him on the pitch, will advise if he responds.
He responded! Short version, he's fit and ready to go, not happy he's not being selected and wants to get involved to make a difference. Personal opinion is that right now he'd be better than #11 Colakovski
That last part - is that your personal opinion or his?
mine, sorry if that wasn't clear. although I'm confident Bally agrees with me as I said that there were a couple of players I thought he'd be better than #11 in particular, he hearted the message and thanked me for the support.,
I do not think Macarthur realise how pissed off we are, and how they're gonna pay for our suffering from last Saturday's derby.
Well, it was right after our horrible round 7 loss to the Jets last season that we put 3 past Macarthur so hopefully history repeats itself this year. Funnily enough, Macarthur were top of the league at that point, with Brisbane (!) a close second.
If you are coming to the game and ccan afford too, please consider bringing a donation for the City Mission. We will be stationed on the concourse prior to entry. #LetThemKnowItsNixmasTime FB_IMG_1733779714481.jpg143.04 KB
