WPM R8 vs Macarthur FC | Sat 14th Dec | 5pm | RoF - 12 Pubs!

LT01

Hughes has been at fault for 3 goals in the last 2 games - I love the giving young guys a chance but at some point you have to establish standards and drop players who aren't performing well enough.

Agree. Might be worth to play Payne alongside Wootton in CB at least for one game to give Hughes a breather and have Sheridan on RB with a different role than the very forward Payne plays there.
The danger is that Hughes may not get back in the saddle if he is on the pine. But at present i would take that risk.  Last two games, his (marginal) errors were the reason we did not get a point despite scoring.  So it is easy to conclude he is the weak link at the moment, and this needs to be corrected so the season does not get away from us.

Mainland FC

I don't think the inexperienced ref is the reason we lost. I do think the Bulls realised very quickly this is a relatively non-interventional ref and they milked it to the fullest.  It is not the reason we lost, but it sure did not make it easier. If someone is outside the field unable to get up, crawling back onto a field of play to lie there is tomfoolery at best. 

It's a yellow card is what it is. 

Mainland FC

Half a Pint

LT01

That elbow by Brattan in the face of Al-Taay - I've seen ones like those given as red cards after VAR review in the A-League! I'm not saying they should be but still in shock as how that's not even a foul

Saw a shot of Al-Taay after the match - looks like it might become a black eye

I don't like Brattan, but in all fairness Al-Taay was behind him and Brattan can easily claim he did not see him. They were not competing for the ball, the ball was in front of Brattan facing his own goal.

It's not intentional, but elbowing someone in the face like that is still a foul.

Missed most the game working in the Mezz bar but was able to stand with the Fever after shift ended. Can't believe we lost to Macarthur of all teams, gonna have to watch the highlights to see what happened.

First time Chief's had back to back losses right?

imanixsupporter

I think this one is a little bit on Chiefy again, though he is getting closer to figuring out what he should be doing with the players at his disposal.

Sheridan is a great player but he is a right back, and Chiefy has been trying to shoehorn into the team everywhere but RB all season and it doesn't work. Colakovski is useless, I'd rather have seen more OVH and Ball.

Maybe next week is time to try a different partner with Wootton, either Piper or even trying Payne there and putting Sheridan at RB. Worth a go when Hughes scores an OG and a pen giveaway in consecutive games. 

Still, I am happy enough with that defeat. Rotten luck that the combination of us gifting them a pen, Kurto having an absolute blinder & us missing a bunch of great chances all conspired to see us lose but we are heading in the right direction.  

Still, I am happy enough with that defeat. Rotten luck that the combination of us gifting them a pen, Kurto having an absolute blinder & us missing a bunch of great chances all conspired to see us lose but we are heading in the right direction.  

This right here is why this club has never won anything in the past 17 years and why AFC will win silverware before us.

It's a frustrating and unexpected loss but I hope people aren't going to jump on the teams back because of it. We have had a mix of results so far this season, including cracking wins against CCM and Victory and some more disappointing results like today and the derbies. 

We would all love to see another genuine title challenge in the A-League Men but if that's not to be then we see what we can achieve. Many seasons before we have had midtable finishing in and around the last finals places and there has been an appropriate balance of praise and critique, and I hope we don't see too much of the latter this year because of unrealistic expectations set by last season.

nufc_nz

imanixsupporter

I think this one is a little bit on Chiefy again, though he is getting closer to figuring out what he should be doing with the players at his disposal.

Sheridan is a great player but he is a right back, and Chiefy has been trying to shoehorn into the team everywhere but RB all season and it doesn't work. Colakovski is useless, I'd rather have seen more OVH and Ball.

Maybe next week is time to try a different partner with Wootton, either Piper or even trying Payne there and putting Sheridan at RB. Worth a go when Hughes scores an OG and a pen giveaway in consecutive games. 

Still, I am happy enough with that defeat. Rotten luck that the combination of us gifting them a pen, Kurto having an absolute blinder & us missing a bunch of great chances all conspired to see us lose but we are heading in the right direction.  

Still, I am happy enough with that defeat. Rotten luck that the combination of us gifting them a pen, Kurto having an absolute blinder & us missing a bunch of great chances all conspired to see us lose but we are heading in the right direction.  

This right here is why this club has never won anything in the past 17 years and why AFC will win silverware before us.

Why?  Because imanixsupporter has their views on the game and isn't overly pessimistic?

You reckon if imanixsupporter gets more negative then that will affect the teams performance?

I'm cynical about that.

WanderingSheep

nufc_nz

Mainland FC

Half a Pint

Good on Oluwayemi making the initial penalty save but yeah not a good start.

Hughes' 2nd big mistake leading to a goal in 2 games. Hopefully he can put it behind him and put in a good shift for the rest of the match

 The commentators said the sprinklers were on very late today, so Hughes might have slipped just at the wrong time.

What are you talking about? He didn’t slip at all.  Even if he did, that doesn’t make you throw your left arm out towards the ball ffs.

Ifil agreed that they overwatered the pitch and it took a funny bounce. arm is out too wide, but still.

Ive watched the ludicrous pre match watering too many times now. Why do they do it, the pitch doesnt need it, its not like we are in Cairns, its just effing dumb

Mainland FC

Is Sheridan a left back?

He didnt look it today. He added absolutely nothing, and either passed back everytime or gave it away.

LT01

It's a frustrating and unexpected loss but I hope people aren't going to jump on the teams back because of it. We have had a mix of results so far this season, including cracking wins against CCM and Victory and some more disappointing results like today and the derbies. 

We would all love to see another genuine title challenge in the A-League Men but if that's not to be then we see what we can achieve. Many seasons before we have had midtable finishing in and around the last finals places and there has been an appropriate balance of praise and critique, and I hope we don't see too much of the latter this year because of unrealistic expectations set by last season.

Ah yes the unrealistic expectations of finally winning some silverware just like all the other teams in the league bar Auckland but including the ones that have been around for fewer years than us. Totally unrealistic. Yeah I'll jut reset my expectations and celebrate mediocrity.

Win or get criticism.

Just watched the highlights the Nix posted.

Just wanna say that the lead up to Kosta's goal with Rojas was beautiful. Those two just really clicked in that moment.

Hard to speak on Oluwayemi since I didn't watch the match but he didn't look great in the highlights. Can't say he's been able to fill Paulson's shoes yet

Noah4thenix

Just watched the highlights the Nix posted.

Just wanna say that the lead up to Kosta's goal with Rojas was beautiful. Those two just really clicked in that moment.

Hard to speak on Oluwayemi since I didn't watch the match but he didn't look great in the highlights. Can't say he's been able to fill Paulson's shoes yet

he isnt a patch on Paulsen.  Dracula likes crosses more than our Josh Im afraid

Noah4thenix

Just watched the highlights the Nix posted.

Just wanna say that the lead up to Kosta's goal with Rojas was beautiful. Those two just really clicked in that moment.

Hard to speak on Oluwayemi since I didn't watch the match but he didn't look great in the highlights. Can't say he's been able to fill Paulson's shoes yet

Nobody will fill Paulson's shoes.  I reckon he's still the best keeper in the league.

Still Oluwayemi did stop the pen, he just unfortunately padded it straight back to the striker.

A tough loss. I think the problem this year is expectation are naturally high because of last season. We also now have rivals in AFC who we desperately want to out perform.

It's still early in the season, there's loads to come and I think we're good enough to finish top 6. Chiefy will have to rethink a few things though as it stands.

This game just reinforced our biggest weakness - the lack of depth off the bench.
We don't have players who can influence or change the game coming off the bench.

Monto

LT01

It's a frustrating and unexpected loss but I hope people aren't going to jump on the teams back because of it. We have had a mix of results so far this season, including cracking wins against CCM and Victory and some more disappointing results like today and the derbies. 

We would all love to see another genuine title challenge in the A-League Men but if that's not to be then we see what we can achieve. Many seasons before we have had midtable finishing in and around the last finals places and there has been an appropriate balance of praise and critique, and I hope we don't see too much of the latter this year because of unrealistic expectations set by last season.

Ah yes the unrealistic expectations of finally winning some silverware just like all the other teams in the league bar Auckland but including the ones that have been around for fewer years than us. Totally unrealistic. Yeah I'll jut reset my expectations and celebrate mediocrity.

Win or get criticism.

Not saying to celebrate mediocrity, I said an appropriate balance of praise and criticism, of course criticism is due and should happen. But let's not get like fanbases of Sydney/Victory who are always bagging their team unless they're dominating the league. 

The difference between us, AFC and Mac is they're tidy and hardened physical pros. And have depth.  We're pretty sloppy, small and flashy.  And have a bunch of potentially promising academy kids.

Some moments of brilliance countered by plenty of pedestrian rubbish, sloppy turnovers and the odd terribly costly blunder.  

We'll be better for 90mins of Rojas, Kosta and Ishige together and will produce some magic and results. But we had zero to offer from the bench. For 15 or twenty minutes of that game, leading into half time, it looked like we would smash them. 

Then Rojas needed his early bed time. 

Unreal we have a star player that we have supposedly built the team around nearly puking from fatigue at half time.  Seven games into the season.  Bring on him getting fit and staying fit, plus Kosta and Ishige.

We really do need another player (probably striker) to start sharing the burden of scoring goals. We cannot rely solely on Kosta. There were plenty of if only moments today but as others have said, our bench offered absolutely nothing and made us weaker. That’s the third game we’ve gifted opposition this season. Not because they played better, but because we were sloppy. That 20 min period before half time, we were fantastic and relentless . But if we’re going to have those periods sporadically, we need to take our chances and other than Kosta, I’m not sure we’ve got that person. 

mjp2

The difference between us, AFC and Mac is they're tidy and hardened physical pros. And have depth.  We're pretty sloppy, small and flashy.  And have a bunch of potentially promising academy kids.

Some moments of brilliance countered by plenty of pedestrian rubbish, sloppy turnovers and the odd terribly costly blunder.  

We'll be better for 90mins of Rojas, Kosta and Ishige together and will produce some magic and results. But we had zero to offer from the bench. For 15 or twenty minutes of that game, leading into half time, it looked like we would smash them. 

Then Rojas needed his early bed time. 

Unreal we have a star player that we have supposedly built the team around nearly puking from fatigue at half time.  Seven games into the season.  Bring on him getting fit and staying fit, plus Kosta and Ishige.

Macarthur haven't been much better than us this season and have a multitude of problems of their own, plus were fortunate to win today. Don't belong in same brass as Auckland who have deservedly won both matchups against us and won the rest.

Well that was disappointing.  First time under Chief we've lost two in a row?  I'm not in complete panic mode yet but might be good to bring in the Ball, I think his wisdom and leadership is needed. 

Saw a teenager wearing an Vought FC shirt in the crowd 🙄

Also I thought this was Kostas fifth goal of the season? Simon Hill said it was his fourth. 

LT01

It's a frustrating and unexpected loss but I hope people aren't going to jump on the teams back because of it. We have had a mix of results so far this season, including cracking wins against CCM and Victory and some more disappointing results like today and the derbies. 

We would all love to see another genuine title challenge in the A-League Men but if that's not to be then we see what we can achieve. Many seasons before we have had midtable finishing in and around the last finals places and there has been an appropriate balance of praise and critique, and I hope we don't see too much of the latter this year because of unrealistic expectations set by last season.

Yeah I think last season has expectations a bit higher than normal but we definitely don't have a team good enough to get the toilet seat, maybe can pinch the final series. I think this season will be good to blood in the next bracket of young players like Sheridan, Walker, GSR, Conchie, Supyk, Smith etc as last season we had Paulsen, Surman and Old all having breakout seasons after being in and around the first team for a couple years so it takes time to replace them with youth who have little pro experience.

Procrastinixing

Well that was disappointing.  First time under Chief we've lost two in a row?  I'm not in complete panic mode yet but might be good to bring in the Ball, I think his wisdom and leadership is needed. 

Saw a teenager wearing an Vought FC shirt in the crowd 🙄

Also I thought this was Kostas fifth goal of the season? Simon Hill said it was his fourth. 

Yes, that little punk in the AFC shirt and his mates were sitting right behind me giving it large the whole game. Very brave. 

Chiefly sounds and is visibly frustrated in the press conference, and mentioning that he didn’t think the team will score when they went 1-0 down.. hmm interesting comments

Lack of depth is a problem. Nix looked by the best team with Rojas on the field (despite conceeding the early goal). Once he tired/went off then a goal looked far less likely. (The opposite last week against Auckland).

Kurto and attacking depth the main difference between the teams for me.

Damn that was a good goal though. 

Makes last year even more painful, having not won anything. This year has been a harsh reality check so far.

What was the crowd?

AucklandPhoenix

What was the crowd?

7384, not sure how many Macarthur supporters we hosted but the away bay looked mostly empty from where I was sitting.

Well that was very dissapointing.
My view from the stands - our issues first, before I get on to the ref.
We have to be questioning where our goals are coming from? Kosta is doing ok, but who else have we got? Our build up play was so laboured, I get posession of the ball and methodical construction of an attack, but right now we seem to have one idea and thats hold onto the ball, pass it arouind and look for Payne to bomb down his wing and corss it for someone. Otherwise its a tiki taka pass looking for the killer ball to feet. Cheif's plan is clear but complex and I'm not sure the players are 100% confident with it. 
Ref last night was horrid, one yellow card in a game where Brattan made 4 cardable tackles in the first half - how he remained on the field is beyond me. Then allowing all the MacArther players to surrouind him and discuss each call. Really poor.
No issue with any of the goals, Kurto kept them in the game and we werent ruthless enough.

theprof

Well that was very dissapointing.
My view from the stands - our issues first, before I get on to the ref.
We have to be questioning where our goals are coming from? Kosta is doing ok, but who else have we got? Our build up play was so laboured, I get posession of the ball and methodical construction of an attack, but right now we seem to have one idea and thats hold onto the ball, pass it arouind and look for Payne to bomb down his wing and corss it for someone. Otherwise its a tiki taka pass looking for the killer ball to feet. Cheif's plan is clear but complex and I'm not sure the players are 100% confident with it. 
Ref last night was horrid, one yellow card in a game where Brattan made 4 cardable tackles in the first half - how he remained on the field is beyond me. Then allowing all the MacArther players to surrouind him and discuss each call. Really poor.
No issue with any of the goals, Kurto kept them in the game and we werent ruthless enough.

Do begin to wonder if its the complexity of Chiefs plan thats causing the trouble. All these footballers careers they have had coaches who have played and trained them in certain positions.
Then they arrive at the Phoenix and are suddenly required to transform into a player who is capable  of in game moving to different positions and doing different jobs to what they have normally done. While some can handle it for some i would imagine its not easy to break the habits of something that has been drilled into you over probably years.
Yes people will say they are professional and should be able to do it but plenty of players spend most of their careers playing in the same position.
Love the way how open Chief is and willing to talk  but know isnt the time know is the time to let the team do your talking and bring the talk back when they are actually performing. Its past the time we were told to expect things to satrt to happen.

WanderingSheep

We really do need another player (probably striker) to start sharing the burden of scoring goals. We cannot rely solely on Kosta. There were plenty of if only moments today but as others have said, our bench offered absolutely nothing and made us weaker. That’s the third game we’ve gifted opposition this season. Not because they played better, but because we were sloppy. That 20 min period before half time, we were fantastic and relentless . But if we’re going to have those periods sporadically, we need to take our chances and other than Kosta, I’m not sure we’ve got that person. 

Agree with all the above but want to comment on the first sentence.  I expect that the reason we recruited Ishige is to provide that role upfront (what Old would normally do). Ishige is an excellent player but if you look at him closely you will see that his unselfishness may be a disadvantage in this team setup. He always seems to think in terms of a team action and is let down by someone else's lack of reading his move correctly.  I would prefer Chiefy to give Ishige a bit more of a free reign; he has better potential than he shows at present.  

Mac bought on a big guy up front in the 2nd half - not sure who he was - but he gave us problems with his physicality and ability to keep the ball - posed us a new problem whilst we were still trying to fix the existing problem of scoring a goal. 

I’d like to see the Nix be able to bring on someone like that, who it’s hard to get the ball off.

I also saw kosta having to do the hold up play yesterday - Mac coming through the back of him on one occasion - he is not the player for that role. 

That’s Piol. Average player and touch an elephant, but is very physical and set up the goal with Hughes almost running past him :(

immortalbird

Mac bought on a big guy up front in the 2nd half - not sure who he was - but he gave us problems with his physicality and ability to keep the ball - posed us a new problem whilst we were still trying to fix the existing problem of scoring a goal. 

I’d like to see the Nix be able to bring on someone like that, who it’s hard to get the ball off.

I also saw kosta having to do the hold up play yesterday - Mac coming through the back of him on one occasion - he is not the player for that role. 

Just don't have the options on the bench to change the game at the moment. Miss Old heaps just as a watch. Ak may give this a real shot, they have more depth - plus A League's not that strong this year. And yeah love Chiefy being so honest about it all. 

The turds should have moved to the away bay.

Gooner 4 Life

Procrastinixing

Well that was disappointing.  First time under Chief we've lost two in a row?  I'm not in complete panic mode yet but might be good to bring in the Ball, I think his wisdom and leadership is needed. 

Saw a teenager wearing an Vought FC shirt in the crowd 🙄

Also I thought this was Kostas fifth goal of the season? Simon Hill said it was his fourth. 

Yes, that little punk in the AFC shirt and his mates were sitting right behind me giving it large the whole game. Very brave. 

One positive at least 

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Nommag

Ryan

theprof

Yeah, average punter will only be able to spend that spare money some many times. Especially so close to xmas.

also apparently 11% of jobs in Wellington have been lost, so there isn't a lot of disposable income going around at the moment.

Crickey 11%. I didn't realise it was that bad. I can only imagine what it would be like in Hamilton if that many people suddenly lost their jobs.

Corrections are looking for staff I believe.

Should Chiefy introduce a fine system? $500 for every pass back, especially from the Wing Backs. I saw so many chances of either passing forwards or sideways and yet again back passing from attacking positions. It frustrates the fudge out of me. Keeping possession is one thing but this back passing just allows the opposition to get their defence more organised.

Fenix

Noah4thenix

Just watched the highlights the Nix posted.

Just wanna say that the lead up to Kosta's goal with Rojas was beautiful. Those two just really clicked in that moment.

Hard to speak on Oluwayemi since I didn't watch the match but he didn't look great in the highlights. Can't say he's been able to fill Paulson's shoes yet

he isnt a patch on Paulsen.  Dracula likes crosses more than our Josh Im afraid

And the next day, Paulsen suffered from "Fan's comment" curse. ;)