Have we heard any updated on Retre, or Mileusnic? Are these open-ended absences?
one of them was to be back on the grass this week. I did see Payne involved with training on Nix socials, not sure if that means he is ahead of schedule or just keeping fit and no contact
Our current Phoenix team are playing the best they can. Check out this team: Krishna, Burns, A-Rod, Albert Riera, Bonevacia, McGlinchey, Boxall, Siggie, Louis Fenton, Manny Moosecat, Dura and Siggie and Mossy. And of course Kenny Cunningham off the bench.
Dunno why we’re so angry with our current lot.
This lot, Iffy’s lot and Uffie’s team with Uli and Hemed were the teams that absolutely should have ripped through the competition.
This might be a massive cope post (ahh who am I kidding, it definitely is), but Auckland massively lucked out with the season they joined the competition.
If they joined the season before, they would've been up against a red-hot Phoenix with actual depth, plus an incredibly strong Mariners, Victory and City, to name a few.
Now all of those squads (to varying degrees) are shadows of their former selves, and Auckland has made the most of the power vacuum.
This might be a massive cope post (ahh who am I kidding, it definitely is), but Auckland massively lucked out with the season they joined the competition.
If they joined the season before, they would've been up against a red-hot Phoenix with actual depth, plus an incredibly strong Mariners, Victory and City, to name a few.
Now all of those squads (to varying degrees) are shadows of their former selves, and Auckland has made the most of the power vacuum.
Big big game. Hopefully Hughes and James are both back.
If we lose this, then the carefully selected word of the week will be : Untenable.
is this a reverse jinx?
It can be what anyone wants it to be.
I try not to jump on the Chiefy out train whenever we lose - And let's face it, we're doing a lot more of that than winning these past 18 or so months!
But the real reason I'm more firm in my wording, especially for this week, is that quite frankly last weekend was a galling, disgusting loss to a team that was not only bottom of the league, but was a team that we should look at paper everytime we come up against them and go "We'll have a bit of them please" - Especially so at home!
To be completely honest here as well, it just feels like the whole club is ambling into somewhat of a no-man's land at the moment - Engagement down, results are middling to poor at best, and fan's are voting with their feet and staying away, and who can blame them?
It's taken me all week to mull things over to this point from after the final whistle v Newcastle, and including what I've said above, the conclusion I came to was that it almost feels like a loved one is dying.
Now some people might say "Well you're clearly just overexaggerating or overthinking things" and maybe I am, but I'm not going to sit here and apologize or back down from saying it.
Every game we lose or play poorly (been a few of late eh?) it genuinely fudges up my whole week, and to that end I know a few that feel exactly like me. But for me, the really grinding thing about the club at the moment is that from top down it doesn't seem like we're up for the fight. This is turn is extending down to the XI on the pitch and looming large over performances.
My small case in point for the above falls back to all the soft/poor goals we have been conceding - No one's barking, no one's got that rallying call to guys to up the ante or even admonish mistakes. Hell at times it looks like guys are just shrugging their shoulders and just going back to it. I can tell you all for free I am fair screaming everytime a ball hits the back of our net. I don't even fully know what i'm even after, but god damn it I'd love some emotion, some passion, hell even just give me some unadulterated anger just so I know guys feel it as much as I/we do.
Full disclosure here too - I would be absolutely over the moon to sharkhouse a 1-0 win over an 'exciting' 2-3 loss any day of the week. This is the trap that I think a lot of people are falling into in regards to this team and the style of play this year.
Sorry for the rant.
Time to turn shark around - Absolutely nothing short of a win this weekend will do.
I’ve defended a lot about this team. I’ve enjoyed the season after last one’s austerity and anti-football.
(Oh my god, last season was indeed like watching a once gregarious and erudite friend have a stroke and be unable to string sentences together.)
But I checked with my past self and I also said before the Newcastle game that they needed a minimum of 5 points from the next 3 games. That’s now an agreement with Youngheart.
If you’ve got so many people who stuck by you through last season’s dross voting with their feet and dollars, time is ticking.
I would also go further when Youngheart says that 3-2 is acceptable to some than a 1-0 win.
For me a 3-2 is a show of promise. In other words, it proves we can score goals and should win our share of games soon. If that promise isn’t being realised we have a problem.
And now is the time because we have the chance to shoot up the table with some positive results. If we start winning now and go up a gear we can make the finals comfortably, rather than it being a consolation prize.
I was proud to hear the Fever on the microphone last game. Let’s fire it up and make it happen!
I’ve defended a lot about this team. I’ve enjoyed the season after last one’s austerity and anti-football.
(Oh my god, last season was indeed like watching a once gregarious and erudite friend have a stroke and be unable to string sentences together.)
But I checked with my past self and I also said before the Newcastle game that they needed a minimum of 5 points from the next 3 games. That’s now an agreement with Youngheart.
If you’ve got so many people who stuck by you through last season’s dross voting with their feet and dollars, time is ticking.
I would also go further when Youngheart says that 3-2 is acceptable to some than a 1-0 win.
For me a 3-2 is a show of promise. In other words, it proves we can score goals and should win our share of games soon. If that promise isn’t being realised we have a problem.
And now is the time because we have the chance to shoot up the table with some positive results. If we start winning now and go up a gear we can make the finals comfortably, rather than it being a consolation prize.
I was proud to hear the Fever on the microphone last game. Let’s fire it up and make it happen!
We haven't scored more than 2 goals in a match since November 2024 let that sink in. Our average goal per game ratio must be 1.5 at best.
The last time we scored 3 was away to the Mariners though.
I think from another thread we were averaging around 15 shots a game and around 5 on target. And it felt like we were dispossessed in their box trying to make space for the shot numerous times in the last game. The chances are there.
I think we gotta get the bit between the teeth or get the smell of blood and do to some other teams what Newcastle did to us. Be relentless with our opportunities. Convert early and often. We were all over them at the start of that half that ended 0-0.
Screenshot 2025-12-14 at 5.25.47 PM.png397.47 KB Hoping to see a similar lineup to this. Armiento is better further forward as we ned him in those shooting positions. Conchie at RWB is a bit of rogue pick but I could've sworn he was playing that position a bit when he came on swapping with Piper and he looked good there. But would presume it'll be Sheridan there over Loke.
I quite like James on the right of the back 3 and Hughes central, though its probably match up dependant. Gives James more chances to display his superior passing.
I quite like James on the right of the back e and Hughes central, though its probably match up dependant. Gives James more chances to display his superior passing.
those wide cbs can bring the ball out of defence and help with numbers in midfield during build up.
When it comes to the Phoenix, much of the talk this season has been about Italiano’s decision to implement a high-defensive line, a tactic which has often seen his team’s defensive unit basing themselves on the halfway line.
However, despite the outside noise and attention Rufer insists that isn’t the reason they’re losing games.
“Look, when you change to any system there’s always a little bit of time that it takes to adapt, and this is no different.” said Rufer, when speaking to reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
“I think the difference is, is that when people watch this, it’s because no one in this part of the world or in this league does it.
“I do believe that our mistakes that we’re making aren’t due to the high line or to how we play. I think it just comes down to concentration and focus.
He continued: “Little things that we can change as players on the field that are making the decisions that will, you know, in turn, help us.
“The belief with how and what we’re doing is there for sure, because I also think it’s how we’ve dominated games with the ball.
Italiano pre-match press conference confirms Hughes and James back, Retre on the bench, and Payne a few weeks away, running but non contact. Mileusnic not mentioned.
Seems Edwards is slightly out of favour, and Conchie too, though IMO he is improving.
With two CBs back, this is possible: Oluwayemi James Hughes LKH Rufer Sheridan/Loke Armiento LBS/Naj Nagasawa. Piper Eze
wilbaker
Screenshot 2025-12-14 at 5.25.47 PM.png397.47 KB Hoping to see a similar lineup to this. Armiento is better further forward as we ned him in those shooting positions. Conchie at RWB is a bit of rogue pick but I could've sworn he was playing that position a bit when he came on swapping with Piper and he looked good there. But would presume it'll be Sheridan there over Loke.
James, Hughes and Retre all yes named in the squad.
Is AKH injured? Seems a bit odd McCarron is being picked ahead of him, now that the Weenix's National League season is over.
The Nix owe Harry Steele a hard tackle or two from the first match back in Gosford.
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners Sunday, December 21 – Sky Stadium – 1:00pm AEDT
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Manjrekar JAMES, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 8. Paulo RETRE, 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 12. Dan EDWARDS, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE, 24. Xuan LOKE, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, Anaru CASSIDY, 39. Jayden SMITH, 40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk).
(Two to be omitted) Ins: 4. Manjrekar JAMES (returning from suspension), 8. Paulo RETRE (returning from injury). Outs: 42. Fergus GILLION (omitted), 48. Mac MUNRO (omitted). Unavailable: 6. Tim PAYNE (injured), 9. Hideki ISHIGE (injured), 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC (injured), 19. Nathan WALKER (injured),23. Luke SUPYK (injured).
Central Coast Mariners Squad: 2. James DONACHIE, 3. Nathan PAULL, 5. Lucas MAURAGIS, 7. Christian THEOHAROUS, 6. Haine EAMES, 8. Alfie McCALMONT, 9. Ryan EDMONDSON, 10. Miguel DI PIZIO, 11. Sabit NGOR, 14. Nico DUARTE, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Harrison STEELE, 20. Will KENNEDY, 21. Abdul FAISAL, 24. Diesel HERRINGTON, 26. Bradley TAPP, 30. Andrew REDMAYNE, 37. Bailey BRANDTMAN, 40. Dylan PERAIC-CULLEN, 42. Laurence TAYLOR
(Two to be omitted) IN: 6. Haine EAMES (returns from injury), 42. Laurence TAYLOR (promoted) OUT: 22. Arthur DE LIMA (injured), 41. Shumba MUTOKOYI (not selected) UNAVAILABLE: 4. Trent SAINSBURY (injured), 22. Arthur DE LIMA (injured)
Seems Edwards is slightly out of favour, and Conchie too, though IMO he is improving.
With two CBs back, this is possible: Oluwayemi James Hughes LKH Rufer Sheridan/Loke Armiento LBS/Naj Nagasawa. Piper Eze
wilbaker
Screenshot 2025-12-14 at 5.25.47 PM.png397.47 KB Hoping to see a similar lineup to this. Armiento is better further forward as we ned him in those shooting positions. Conchie at RWB is a bit of rogue pick but I could've sworn he was playing that position a bit when he came on swapping with Piper and he looked good there. But would presume it'll be Sheridan there over Loke.
I dont think Edwards is out of favour, just young in terms of experience. His time on the fields has been pretty good, IMO. Conchie I'm not sure about, he too has given a pretty good showing but only as a bench sitter.
Yeah and those half could not be more wrong, Win by 2 or more today and are 7th, 3 points from 3rd (Roar who are arguabley the form team at the moment).
This is a crucial game to close out the year, win and we are still in the chase, lose and it's a long road back.
