So gutted We couldn't get it done tonight. We had the chances to do it.
But I'm so proud of the club this season, our best ever season, and we've actually finally made the NZ media take notice of us!
We've got some great young foundations at the club (heres hoping they dont all get overseas contracts just yet) Let's run it back and go one better next season
Also great seeing such a huge passionate crowd tonight, hopefully despite the result, the absolute scenes at the Zawada goal will convince a few first timers and casuals to come back next season
I feel for Rufer. That was probably the finest quality season from a Nix defensive mid I can remember in 17 years. But he is going to be waking up in the dead of night for a very long time thinking about missed penalties. Hope he doesn't blame himself, we were beaten fair and square on the night, hard as it is to admit.
Wasn't to be tonight. Was ultimately our greatest weakness that did us in at the end - corners. We quite often looked like conceding from them throughout the season and we never looked like we would score from ours. And that's what happened tonight, they got one and we didn't.
I will say though that van Hattum looks like the best corner taker we have and the silver lining to potentially all 3 of our best forwards leaving is that he will be a likely starter next season. He had a poor game overall but played a big part in our goal. Maybe with regular minutes he can find some consistency.
And I know I'm weird for this but I'm glad Rufer missed that pen. It was surely never a pen in a million years, unless there has been a rule change or interpretation change recently? It doesn't feel nice to get an advantage from such a call.
We played well, we created a small but enough chances to win, but we were unfortunate and that's football. Their first goal was a screamer, 2nd goal was a series of rare defensive errors from Payne and Surman, and unfortunately these kinda games are often decided by those small moments.
I don't think I can handle this result and Arsenal finishing second in the league within a couple of hours of each other.
Still, a great season. So many positives. For the first time in years we aren't in a panic about the upcoming season with only 5 players signed. In all likelihood, anyone we lose who we don't want to lose will bring us a good transfer fee (other than Zawada). Onwards and upwards.
We’re so crap at corners. We won 11-3 on corners, but their winner came from one.
We had very few decent shots on goal, too. I can only think of two worth bothering about, both from Zawada and one was the last corner we had.
It is fair to say that the Victory are an excellent defensive team. And we were good, but not our best. Kraev was off the pace and Old wasn’t poor, but not his best either. And we didn’t attack well in transition as well as being denied some of it by persistent fouling.
We’re so crap at corners. We won 11-3 on corners, but their winner came from one.
We had very few decent shots on goal, too. I can only think of two worth bothering about, both from Zawada and one was the last corner we had.
It is fair to say that the Victory are an excellent defensive team. And we were good, but not our best. Kraev was off the pace and Old wasn’t poor, but not his best either. And we didn’t attack well in transition as well as being denied some of it by persistent fouling.
What? I thought Old was excellent, certainly far, far better than last week. Easily our most dangerous player and had them in panic mode quite a few times.
agreed. Thought he should have been dropped for this leg after Melbourne but he proved me wrongOutpost
martinb
Marto
martinb
We’re so crap at corners. We won 11-3 on corners, but their winner came from one.
We had very few decent shots on goal, too. I can only think of two worth bothering about, both from Zawada and one was the last corner we had.
It is fair to say that the Victory are an excellent defensive team. And we were good, but not our best. Kraev was off the pace and Old wasn’t poor, but not his best either. And we didn’t attack well in transition as well as being denied some of it by persistent fouling.
What? I thought Old was excellent, certainly far, far better than last week. Easily our most dangerous player and had them in panic mode quite a few times.
I'm so proud of this team, but as a born and raised Wellingtonian, I want to cry. Not just because the result is heartbreaking, but also knowing the specialty the Phoenix had for so many years of being our only professional team is now over.
Yes there was the Knights and before that the Kingz, but I was too young to remember the Kingz and I didn't start watching the Phoenix until their legendary 09/10 season.
Auckland joining the league will be a good boost for football in this country, but having grown up with this team like many, I sure will miss those innocent times.
agreed. Thought he should have been dropped for this leg after Melbourne but he proved me wrongOutpost
martinb
Marto
martinb
We’re so crap at corners. We won 11-3 on corners, but their winner came from one.
We had very few decent shots on goal, too. I can only think of two worth bothering about, both from Zawada and one was the last corner we had.
It is fair to say that the Victory are an excellent defensive team. And we were good, but not our best. Kraev was off the pace and Old wasn’t poor, but not his best either. And we didn’t attack well in transition as well as being denied some of it by persistent fouling.
What? I thought Old was excellent, certainly far, far better than last week. Easily our most dangerous player and had them in panic mode quite a few times.
Old was good and yes, quite possibly our best and maybe the best creative player on the park, but can and has been better. We didn’t score through two regular halves with him at the heart of our attack. He had a lot of chances to create opportunities, and while the Victory did defend well, he couldn’t find the critical moment. I almost wonder if he should have been held in reserve too…
Edit- geez I’m forgetting Kosta’s ‘pen’ aren’t I. That was Oldy magic that should’ve been rewarded…and he did the his best for Kraev not to be able to put it away. STILL I think he’s a better player even than we saw tonight, where he did admittedly play very well.
That second half run from Old into the box when he hit the post was brilliant. Couple of inches the other side and it's 1-0 to us. But ok yes, a better player might've done better with the header in the first half. I keep reminding myself though that Old is fully NZ made and only 20 years old. Easily outplayed Arzani, once the golden boy of Oz.
Five at the back when you're down a goal in extra time is diabolical. All that possession along your backline while you lack any real incisive ability to move the ball into more dangerous areas did nothing to help us in that match. I don't think it's a good formation at all unless you have genuinely league beating wing backs.
I don't often think Chief has it wrong but I really disagree with the tactics he employed today. We didn't set up in a way that let us create chances well at all.
As an aside I wonder how many goals this season we've scored from counter attacks vs possession build up? I think our inability to do much with the ball when we have it for long periods of time has been one of the main reasons we've come up short.
And we still remain the only team with no silverware, very disappointing. Second doesn't mean shark in your trophy cabinet.
Wasn't to be tonight. Was ultimately our greatest weakness that did us in at the end - corners. We quite often looked like conceding from them throughout the season and we never looked like we would score from ours. And that's what happened tonight, they got one and we didn't.
I will say though that van Hattum looks like the best corner taker we have and the silver lining to potentially all 3 of our best forwards leaving is that he will be a likely starter next season. He had a poor game overall but played a big part in our goal. Maybe with regular minutes he can find some consistency.
And I know I'm weird for this but I'm glad Rufer missed that pen. It was surely never a pen in a million years, unless there has been a rule change or interpretation change recently? It doesn't feel nice to get an advantage from such a call.
But we should have had a pen given with Kosta dragged down. Could have been should have been, but feel Rufer would have been more relaxed taking that pen if given, being sooooo early in the game. Might have been a different outcome.
We all felt the huge pressure of the 2nd half pen (63 mins in), as it really felt like then one goal may have been enough. Feel for Rufer. Two dumb pen decisions aside, I thought Elder had an okay game.
Corners were bad as everyone has commented on. But so was the crossing in general. Especially down the right edge. Payne can frustrate me. I know he gives his all, but tonight his crossing was mostly awful. Salas no better. Unless the Tico was cheap, I think the Nix should let him go. Rather see Sheridan & Conchie get mins. Yeah agree OVH looks our best at crossing or on corners. Another that will be better next season.
Credit to the VUC. Their older experienced players stood up. They have a very tough back 4 plus Izzo. Traoré what a strike. They had better more experienced options off the bench than us. It wouldn't shock to see them win the GF. But yeah I won't be sad if they have to unload players plus Poppa in the new ALM pauper environment.
Chief & the whole club, what a season. They so deserved to be in the club's first big dance. They will be hurting. But the foundations are there for a solid future. Even if some/all of Zawada, Surman, Old etc are now gone.
To play devil's advocate, Kosta very possibly (probably?) doesn't score that even if the illegal contact didn't begin until after he'd hit it. I don't feel we were necessarily robbed by that call.
Agree that Salas shouldn't be kept on.
I think the major frustration from the season should be our failure to stop the Mariners' winner the other week. Would have got the plate, and playoffs which are always going to be a lottery would have just been a fun bonus. I couldn't see us going to Gosford and winning the GF there next week so I feel little was lost tonight. I'm just so happy that the crowd got that one moment of Zawada magic.
And on the bright side, Nix players in the All Stars game & Rufer never takes a pen for the Nix again.
I hope that brings some fans along next year. From a non-football-fan perspective (after talking to a few neutrals) it was an intense game and the atmosphere throughout was really good. Damn decent showcase for the game and how we can play.
Absolutely gutted by the result but bringing it back at ‘102 was just insane.
To play devil's advocate, Kosta very possibly (probably?) doesn't score that even if the illegal contact didn't begin until after he'd hit it. I don't feel we were necessarily robbed by that call.
Agree that Salas shouldn't be kept on.
I think the major frustration from the season should be our failure to stop the Mariners' winner the other week. Would have got the plate, and playoffs which are always going to be a lottery would have just been a fun bonus. I couldn't see us going to Gosford and winning the GF there next week so I feel little was lost tonight. I'm just so happy that the crowd got that one moment of Zawada magic.
And on the bright side, Nix players in the All Stars game & Rufer never takes a pen for the Nix again.
When is Al-Taay contracted until?
How’s this for an alternative starting 11? Hughes Surman Wootton Payne LKH Al-Taay Pennington Rufer Old/Kraev Kosta
Big impact bench then. And Pennington can push further forward. Guess it depends on what Salas wants, but it’s not likely we can pay it, especially with Conchie and Sheridan coming through.
Chief confirms it was zawadas last game in a nix shirt. Great way to finish. Though through sadness
I think this season we've shown we can live without him. OVH is not the answer though. He'll continue to improve but is still a fair way off the pace
OVH just isn’t a striker. Or at least, isn’t one right now.
Luke Supyk is still a kid (18?), but seems to have a bright future and is a proper striker. He was a surprise final late addition the squad last year, ahead of the likes of Riley Bidois, so must have impressed Chief & Gill who have a pretty good recruitment record.
If the AWs or Olywhites do any camps at Albany over next few months, be good to invite in youngsters like Supyk to help with their development.
Chief confirms it was zawadas last game in a nix shirt. Great way to finish. Though through sadness
I think this season we've shown we can live without him. OVH is not the answer though. He'll continue to improve but is still a fair way off the pace
OVH just isn’t a striker. Or at least, isn’t one right now.
Luke Supyk is still a kid (18?), but seems to have a bright future and is a proper striker. He was a surprise final addition the squad last year, ahead of the likes of Riley Bidois, and Chief & Gill have a pretty good recruitment record.
If the AWs or Olywhites do any camps at Albany over next few months, be good to invite in youngsters like Supyk to help with their development.
Think there were even ideas that he might feature much more than he did for the Nix this season before Kosta found his shooting boots.
Five at the back when you're down a goal in extra time is diabolical. All that possession along your backline while you lack any real incisive ability to move the ball into more dangerous areas did nothing to help us in that match. I don't think it's a good formation at all unless you have genuinely league beating wing backs.
I don't often think Chief has it wrong but I really disagree with the tactics he employed today. We didn't set up in a way that let us create chances well at all.
As an aside I wonder how many goals this season we've scored from counter attacks vs possession build up? I think our inability to do much with the ball when we have it for long periods of time has been one of the main reasons we've come up short.
And we still remain the only team with no silverware, very disappointing. Second doesn't mean shark in your trophy cabinet.
Re the no silverware. Create one and have a 50% of winning it!
Derby games verus AFC. The Wynton Rufer Cup.
NZ legend. Welly born & bred. Nephew the Nix skipper. But lived in Auckland a long time, and captain of NZ's first pro club which was in the 09.
Kosta invisible after he messed up that chance early on. Just hit it low and hard ffs.
I honestly thought we lacked any urgency after going a goal down and into extra time. Pissing about along the back line is so boring and we didn’t create a lot. Nothing changed.
