WPM Semi Final Leg 2 vs Melbourne Victory | Sat 18th May | 6:30pm | RoF | March @ 5:30pm

Bananas

Maaaaaaatt

Chris Kerr

Anywhere online to see that incident early on with Kosta?

We were out for dinner but getting a lot of asks about it

https://x.com/ParamountPlusAU/status/1791720867409416350

fudge me watching that again is frustrating as shark.

It looks like he's being yanked before he shoots which screams DOGSO.

And if it isn't a DOGSO surely it's still a foul in the box, which is a pen yeah?

I'd be very interested to hear Chris's comments on both contentious incidents. He is an ex-referee right? So he will have a much more nuanced understanding of why officials arrive at certain decisions, whereas most of us are often blinded by outrage. Which is often not helped by tv commentators having no real understanding of the rules either.

Like many I thought Azani's handball couldn't be given as a penalty because the ball came off his body onto his arm. This is apparently not so but unfortunately when Elder gave his reasons for awarding the penalty there was no audio so I'm still in the dark. If he's correct and that's the law then all I can say is the law is an ass!

Not going to lie, last night hurt. 

So many missed opportunities. So many fine margins.... Football is a cruel mistress.

There's no faulting the lads. They gave it everything. In the end, it just wasn't our night.

Credit to Melbourne. They weathered everything we threw at them and somehow found a way to win.

Congratulations to Chiefy and the squad for a beautiful season. You made me proud of being a Nix supporter up here in sunny Queensland.  

So many highlights... I feel like I could write a book.

Chiefy's post match presser said it all. Although he was dignified in defeat, you could see and feel his pain. I know he'll bottle the disappointment of losing last night and use that to drive the remaining squad next year. 

We'll be back, bigger and better.  24/25 just might just be our year.
We've got the WIND the RAIN and the PHOENIX.... 

Outpost

Bananas

Maaaaaaatt

Chris Kerr

Anywhere online to see that incident early on with Kosta?

We were out for dinner but getting a lot of asks about it

https://x.com/ParamountPlusAU/status/1791720867409416350

fudge me watching that again is frustrating as shark.

It looks like he's being yanked before he shoots which screams DOGSO.

And if it isn't a DOGSO surely it's still a foul in the box, which is a pen yeah?

I'd be very interested to hear Chris's comments on both contentious incidents. He is an ex-referee right? So he will have a much more nuanced understanding of why officials arrive at certain decisions, whereas most of us are often blinded by outrage. Which is often not helped by tv commentators having no real understanding of the rules either.

Like many I thought Azani's handball couldn't be given as a penalty because the ball came off his body onto his arm. This is apparently not so but unfortunately when Elder gave his reasons for awarding the penalty there was no audio so I'm still in the dark. If he's correct and that's the law then all I can say is the law is an ass!

Brief summary I read today (ref’s words?) that with his arms up his shape is larger; hence pen when the ball deflected off his body and into the arm

Procrastinixing

Can someone remind me how long this feeling of sadness and disappointment takes to go?    So that's 3-2 now with home play offs, horrible it happened with a crowd of 33,295 as well.   Not sure how many of those will be back.  

Anyway, nice to see Dura on their facebook post.

image.png 206.32 KB

People go to live sports to be entertained, not with an expectation of a win. They got entertainment in spades - ridiculous to suggest that the big crowd was a negative because we lost. 

If we played terribly it would be another story. 

Does that show a lack of ambition by the club? Put aside all the losing money argument, surely if you have a very young team that comes within a hair’s breadth of winning the whole show you would want to go to the next level and that involved either better and more expensive players or allow the team to further develop with what we have and perhaps a top flight addition.

Its been a great ride this year and I really hope the club isn’t going to kneecap us when we are oh so close….

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350282770/wellington-phoenix-coach-confirms-departure-star-striker-oskar-zawada

“You won’t see Zawada here, no, but definitely Kosta Barbarouses,” Italiano said.

“The available money we have doesn’t allow us to retain every player that we want.

“Because we’ve done well, the market has pushed the value of those players up and I want to reinvest some of that money into the younger players longer-term.

“Every club is in a different position,” Italiano said.

“There are still some clubs spending a lot of money next year and some that unfortunately that have to make some cuts. I think that’s a reality for a couple of clubs.

“We have a very good owner and a very good football committee who have put a lot of investment into the club and they want to be competitive again, but again with a re-emphasis on youth and building on what we’ve done.”

Congratulations to Chiefy and the team on a wonderful season. To miss the GF by a goal in extra time is just the luck of football. For me, having been to most home games since inception, this was my favourite season. Awesome young talent and the prospect of home derbies next season gives me optimism that the team will continue to give us hope and entertainment, and that’s what football is about. COYN! 

Outpost

Bananas

Maaaaaaatt

Chris Kerr

Anywhere online to see that incident early on with Kosta?

We were out for dinner but getting a lot of asks about it

https://x.com/ParamountPlusAU/status/1791720867409416350

fudge me watching that again is frustrating as shark.

It looks like he's being yanked before he shoots which screams DOGSO.

And if it isn't a DOGSO surely it's still a foul in the box, which is a pen yeah?

I'd be very interested to hear Chris's comments on both contentious incidents. He is an ex-referee right? So he will have a much more nuanced understanding of why officials arrive at certain decisions, whereas most of us are often blinded by outrage. Which is often not helped by tv commentators having no real understanding of the rules either.

Like many I thought Azani's handball couldn't be given as a penalty because the ball came off his body onto his arm. This is apparently not so but unfortunately when Elder gave his reasons for awarding the penalty there was no audio so I'm still in the dark. If he's correct and that's the law then all I can say is the law is an ass!

Commentators said what was said by Elder that as the arm position was unnatural making the body unnaturally big (essentially a rugby charge down) before Arzani went in the challenge the ‘hit the body first’ thing didn’t apply. 

Which is the first I’ve heard of it, but the law seems like a mess. 

Everybody hurts. 

Napier Phoenix

Does that show a lack of ambition by the club? Put aside all the losing money argument, surely if you have a very young team that comes within a hair’s breadth of winning the whole show you would want to go to the next level and that involved either better and more expensive players or allow the team to further develop with what we have and perhaps a top flight addition.

Its been a great ride this year and I really hope the club isn’t going to kneecap us when we are oh so close….

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350282770/wellington-phoenix-coach-confirms-departure-star-striker-oskar-zawada

“You won’t see Zawada here, no, but definitely Kosta Barbarouses,” Italiano said.

“The available money we have doesn’t allow us to retain every player that we want.

“Because we’ve done well, the market has pushed the value of those players up and I want to reinvest some of that money into the younger players longer-term.

“Every club is in a different position,” Italiano said.

“There are still some clubs spending a lot of money next year and some that unfortunately that have to make some cuts. I think that’s a reality for a couple of clubs.

“We have a very good owner and a very good football committee who have put a lot of investment into the club and they want to be competitive again, but again with a re-emphasis on youth and building on what we’ve done.”

Lack of ambition??? Or just a lack of available funds! Get real man! This season was built on the realisation that there isnt a bottomless pit of money lying around to fund the Nix. Now with the funding from the APL suppossedly being halved the owners have to be realistic. Would you rather wi signed everyone we wanted, spend it money like it was neverending, and go bust or we continue to tighten our belts continue to develop our youth and continue to be in with a chance?

martinb

Outpost

Bananas

Maaaaaaatt

Chris Kerr

Anywhere online to see that incident early on with Kosta?

We were out for dinner but getting a lot of asks about it

https://x.com/ParamountPlusAU/status/1791720867409416350

fudge me watching that again is frustrating as shark.

It looks like he's being yanked before he shoots which screams DOGSO.

And if it isn't a DOGSO surely it's still a foul in the box, which is a pen yeah?

I'd be very interested to hear Chris's comments on both contentious incidents. He is an ex-referee right? So he will have a much more nuanced understanding of why officials arrive at certain decisions, whereas most of us are often blinded by outrage. Which is often not helped by tv commentators having no real understanding of the rules either.

Like many I thought Azani's handball couldn't be given as a penalty because the ball came off his body onto his arm. This is apparently not so but unfortunately when Elder gave his reasons for awarding the penalty there was no audio so I'm still in the dark. If he's correct and that's the law then all I can say is the law is an ass!

Commentators said what was said by Elder that as the arm position was unnatural making the body unnaturally big (essentially a rugby charge down) before Arzani went in the challenge the ‘hit the body first’ thing didn’t apply. 

Which is the first I’ve heard of it, but the law seems like a mess. 

When he stuck his arm up in he air I was under the impression it was the making the body bigger argument.  I thought hit the body first is to cover if it comes off your chest but nicks your arm on the way down or catches your shoulder as you are moving.

theprof

Napier Phoenix

Does that show a lack of ambition by the club? Put aside all the losing money argument, surely if you have a very young team that comes within a hair’s breadth of winning the whole show you would want to go to the next level and that involved either better and more expensive players or allow the team to further develop with what we have and perhaps a top flight addition.

Its been a great ride this year and I really hope the club isn’t going to kneecap us when we are oh so close….

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350282770/wellington-phoenix-coach-confirms-departure-star-striker-oskar-zawada

“You won’t see Zawada here, no, but definitely Kosta Barbarouses,” Italiano said.

“The available money we have doesn’t allow us to retain every player that we want.

“Because we’ve done well, the market has pushed the value of those players up and I want to reinvest some of that money into the younger players longer-term.

“Every club is in a different position,” Italiano said.

“There are still some clubs spending a lot of money next year and some that unfortunately that have to make some cuts. I think that’s a reality for a couple of clubs.

“We have a very good owner and a very good football committee who have put a lot of investment into the club and they want to be competitive again, but again with a re-emphasis on youth and building on what we’ve done.”

Lack of ambition??? Or just a lack of available funds! Get real man! This season was built on the realisation that there isnt a bottomless pit of money lying around to fund the Nix. Now with the funding from the APL suppossedly being halved the owners have to be realistic. Would you rather wi signed everyone we wanted, spend it money like it was neverending, and go bust or we continue to tighten our belts continue to develop our youth and continue to be in with a chance?

If we all buy 50 Oppo phones on a Spark plan and convince our families to do the same then Nix might get more coin for signings.

I hate the off season.

theprof

Napier Phoenix

Does that show a lack of ambition by the club? Put aside all the losing money argument, surely if you have a very young team that comes within a hair’s breadth of winning the whole show you would want to go to the next level and that involved either better and more expensive players or allow the team to further develop with what we have and perhaps a top flight addition.

Its been a great ride this year and I really hope the club isn’t going to kneecap us when we are oh so close….

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350282770/wellington-phoenix-coach-confirms-departure-star-striker-oskar-zawada

“You won’t see Zawada here, no, but definitely Kosta Barbarouses,” Italiano said.

“The available money we have doesn’t allow us to retain every player that we want.

“Because we’ve done well, the market has pushed the value of those players up and I want to reinvest some of that money into the younger players longer-term.

“Every club is in a different position,” Italiano said.

“There are still some clubs spending a lot of money next year and some that unfortunately that have to make some cuts. I think that’s a reality for a couple of clubs.

“We have a very good owner and a very good football committee who have put a lot of investment into the club and they want to be competitive again, but again with a re-emphasis on youth and building on what we’ve done.”

Lack of ambition??? Or just a lack of available funds! Get real man! This season was built on the realisation that there isnt a bottomless pit of money lying around to fund the Nix. Now with the funding from the APL suppossedly being halved the owners have to be realistic. Would you rather wi signed everyone we wanted, spend it money like it was neverending, and go bust or we continue to tighten our belts continue to develop our youth and continue to be in with a chance?

I think its a pretty fair question tbh, wasn't worth getting angry over.

He's just asking if we're happy to continue to be the leagues Tottenham.

Monto

theprof

Napier Phoenix

Does that show a lack of ambition by the club? Put aside all the losing money argument, surely if you have a very young team that comes within a hair’s breadth of winning the whole show you would want to go to the next level and that involved either better and more expensive players or allow the team to further develop with what we have and perhaps a top flight addition.

Its been a great ride this year and I really hope the club isn’t going to kneecap us when we are oh so close….

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350282770/wellington-phoenix-coach-confirms-departure-star-striker-oskar-zawada

“You won’t see Zawada here, no, but definitely Kosta Barbarouses,” Italiano said.

“The available money we have doesn’t allow us to retain every player that we want.

“Because we’ve done well, the market has pushed the value of those players up and I want to reinvest some of that money into the younger players longer-term.

“Every club is in a different position,” Italiano said.

“There are still some clubs spending a lot of money next year and some that unfortunately that have to make some cuts. I think that’s a reality for a couple of clubs.

“We have a very good owner and a very good football committee who have put a lot of investment into the club and they want to be competitive again, but again with a re-emphasis on youth and building on what we’ve done.”

Lack of ambition??? Or just a lack of available funds! Get real man! This season was built on the realisation that there isnt a bottomless pit of money lying around to fund the Nix. Now with the funding from the APL suppossedly being halved the owners have to be realistic. Would you rather wi signed everyone we wanted, spend it money like it was neverending, and go bust or we continue to tighten our belts continue to develop our youth and continue to be in with a chance?

I think its a pretty fair question tbh, wasn't worth getting angry over.

He's just asking if we're happy to continue to be the leagues Tottenham.

Not sure we have the funds to be anything else. We are not owned or linked with an oil magnate, or a russian oligarch, we have a small  group of wealthy investors who have limits on what they can spend. I liken it to Wrexham trying to get into the prem league. Their owners are incredibly wealthy compared to you and I (combined wealth of $400m USD), but compare that to the $100's of billions that the owners of some premier league teams and it's a pittance. Not saying there is billions in the aleague but there are clubs that have a win at all costs mentality and we are not one of them.

It's all well and good to say that we should be re-signing all these players - who will presumably want a pay rise after a fantastic season. The reality is that with these likely pay rises AND the APL gutting funding, we simply cannot afford to get all the big names. As much as I'm sure the club would love to keep everyone, we just can't. It's not a matter of lack of ambition.

Yep, it seems silly to talk about a lack of ambition when ambition is measured solely in money that the club doesn't have.

Just because a club is ambitious, doesn't mean it can magic up money from nowhere - a lot of clubs have failed because they've tried just that...

I'm sure the Phoenix are ambitious, and they have a plan to meet those ambitions as best as they can.

On another note, I saw most of the Phoenix at the Old Bailey on Sunday, they were entering for a lunch just as we were leaving. Told them it was a good game and they did us proud, which they thanked me for, but I didn't want to bother them more than that. Think it probably shows the team culture that they banned together after such a hard night.

I also saw the Victory going for a walk on the waterfront on Saturday morning before the game, I told them the Phoenix were going to thrash them but in hindsight I should have tripped one or two of them up...

Ryan

Yep, it seems silly to talk about a lack of ambition when ambition is measured solely in money that the club doesn't have.

Just because a club is ambitious, doesn't mean it can magic up money from nowhere - a lot of clubs have failed because they've tried just that...

I'm sure the Phoenix are ambitious, and they have a plan to meet those ambitions as best as they can.

I have no doubt the club is ambitious. Developing excellent local talent via Nix Academy is one way of showing ambition. Having them win games where the local youngsters make the difference makes the argument self-evident. 
Who can forget OVH free kick for Surman's header into Victory net, just a few weeks ago?  Who can forget Paulsen saving a raft of penalties? Old's stonking goal against Adelaide?

This has been covered on this thread already, but my additional two cents FWIW; I reflected on the game after watching the highlights this morning – we were the better team for most of the game, created a bunch of good chances and didn’t take them.  That handball is not something that should result in a penalty IMO.  

Gutted that we weren’t able to follow through and get the result (or win the game earlier), but that last minute goal and erupting with 33k others will stick in my memory forever.  We go to these games with the hope to get moments like these, and it doesn’t happen very often.  I’m happy I was there and got to experience that with my kids.  There’ll be some new lifelong fans despite the result.  Bravo to the team for an awesome season

Monto

theprof

Napier Phoenix

Does that show a lack of ambition by the club? Put aside all the losing money argument, surely if you have a very young team that comes within a hair’s breadth of winning the whole show you would want to go to the next level and that involved either better and more expensive players or allow the team to further develop with what we have and perhaps a top flight addition.

Its been a great ride this year and I really hope the club isn’t going to kneecap us when we are oh so close….

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350282770/wellington-phoenix-coach-confirms-departure-star-striker-oskar-zawada

“You won’t see Zawada here, no, but definitely Kosta Barbarouses,” Italiano said.

“The available money we have doesn’t allow us to retain every player that we want.

“Because we’ve done well, the market has pushed the value of those players up and I want to reinvest some of that money into the younger players longer-term.

“Every club is in a different position,” Italiano said.

“There are still some clubs spending a lot of money next year and some that unfortunately that have to make some cuts. I think that’s a reality for a couple of clubs.

“We have a very good owner and a very good football committee who have put a lot of investment into the club and they want to be competitive again, but again with a re-emphasis on youth and building on what we’ve done.”

Lack of ambition??? Or just a lack of available funds! Get real man! This season was built on the realisation that there isnt a bottomless pit of money lying around to fund the Nix. Now with the funding from the APL suppossedly being halved the owners have to be realistic. Would you rather wi signed everyone we wanted, spend it money like it was neverending, and go bust or we continue to tighten our belts continue to develop our youth and continue to be in with a chance?

I think its a pretty fair question tbh, wasn't worth getting angry over.

He's just asking if we're happy to continue to be the leagues Tottenham.

We ain't Tottenham though are we. We are Crystal Palace or Fulham.

WSW are Tottenham, a 'bigger' club with deeper pockets, greatly helped by the FA at their inception, who continuously under achieve.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350276668/wellington-phoenix-cant-count-taking-obvious-next-step-just-ask-warriors

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350283374/yeah-nah-were-wellington-phoenix-robbed-penalty-semifinal

Unrelated but props to whoever made this site. I've checked out other club's forums and this is genuinely the cleanest and nicest to use

https://theniche-cache.com/football/2024/5/20/notes-from-the-wellington-phoenixs-semi-final-defeat-vs-melbourne-victory

It gets better. That crowd was not only huge by Wellington standards... it’s actually the largest crowd of the entire A-League season and it’s not even close. Second-place was Sydney FC vs Western Sydney back in November which drew in 28,152 spectators... more than five thousand fewer than what the Nix had on Saturday night. Even a Melbourne Derby elimination final only got to 21,358 (sixth overall).

The grand final is being hosted by Central Coast whose stadium is smaller than this so nothing’s going to change with the decider. Across the past four seasons, there’s only been one instance of a larger crowd than what we saw at Sky Stadium on Saturday evening. A magnificent effort. An emphatic statement.


....Traore’s goal was only the third that the Nix have conceded from outside the penalty area all season. The previous one was Doka’s winner for CCM in stoppage time of that top-of-the-table clash.

....All the young lads are signed up. Granted, there is also a strong possibility of player sales given the form that some of the academy blokes showed. Maybe even a necessity of player sales given that league funding is expected to be slashed next season. But Central Coast sold half of their championship team (and switched managers) and are now one win away from a treble. The Phoenix are built to rebuild. The academy is designed to replenish. This is how it’s supposed to work.

Think that this’ll take a week to get over. Ive watched various forms of highlights and keep thinking if only, but the end result doesn’t change. Can’t fault the team, club, fans for the efforts over the season, it’s been a joy to be a part of. Seeing Wellington buzz the last couple of weeks about these games was amazing. Folk who don’t usually care asking questions and then the atmosphere in the stadium was the best nix atmosphere by far. The euphoria of that equaliser is what makes football amazing and I don’t doubt that many more will return. 

I don’t know what next season holds, but in chief and the owners, I have faith. They’ve allowed him to build something special (against all odds) and most importantly, the players as well as the fans have bought into it. I pray we get something at the end of his journey with us, as he already deserves it. 

Btw whatever happened to the 150+ melburnians?!? There was fudge all of them.

coochiee

https://theniche-cache.com/football/2024/5/20/notes-from-the-wellington-phoenixs-semi-final-defeat-vs-melbourne-victory

It gets better. That crowd was not only huge by Wellington standards... it’s actually the largest crowd of the entire A-League season and it’s not even close. Second-place was Sydney FC vs Western Sydney back in November which drew in 28,152 spectators... more than five thousand fewer than what the Nix had on Saturday night. Even a Melbourne Derby elimination final only got to 21,358 (sixth overall).

The grand final is being hosted by Central Coast whose stadium is smaller than this so nothing’s going to change with the decider. Across the past four seasons, there’s only been one instance of a larger crowd than what we saw at Sky Stadium on Saturday evening. A magnificent effort. An emphatic statement.


....Traore’s goal was only the third that the Nix have conceded from outside the penalty area all season. The previous one was Doka’s winner for CCM in stoppage time of that top-of-the-table clash.

....All the young lads are signed up. Granted, there is also a strong possibility of player sales given the form that some of the academy blokes showed. Maybe even a necessity of player sales given that league funding is expected to be slashed next season. But Central Coast sold half of their championship team (and switched managers) and are now one win away from a treble. The Phoenix are built to rebuild. The academy is designed to replenish. This is how it’s supposed to work.

I've wondered about crowd sizes for the Nix for a long time, why is it for big matches we can sell out a stadium? For years I've always thoughtt we just dont have the population in wider Wellington to ghet 15k-20k regularly. Yet we get 33k+ for big matches. Is it a kiwi thing to only go to the big games? 
Take away the 300 away fans last weekend and that leaves 33k kiwis, even if you said hald of that were out of towners travelling for the event that leaves 16500 locals coming to watch the Nix. The question is why do they not turn out every home game??

theprof

coochiee

https://theniche-cache.com/football/2024/5/20/notes-from-the-wellington-phoenixs-semi-final-defeat-vs-melbourne-victory

It gets better. That crowd was not only huge by Wellington standards... it’s actually the largest crowd of the entire A-League season and it’s not even close. Second-place was Sydney FC vs Western Sydney back in November which drew in 28,152 spectators... more than five thousand fewer than what the Nix had on Saturday night. Even a Melbourne Derby elimination final only got to 21,358 (sixth overall).

The grand final is being hosted by Central Coast whose stadium is smaller than this so nothing’s going to change with the decider. Across the past four seasons, there’s only been one instance of a larger crowd than what we saw at Sky Stadium on Saturday evening. A magnificent effort. An emphatic statement.


....Traore’s goal was only the third that the Nix have conceded from outside the penalty area all season. The previous one was Doka’s winner for CCM in stoppage time of that top-of-the-table clash.

....All the young lads are signed up. Granted, there is also a strong possibility of player sales given the form that some of the academy blokes showed. Maybe even a necessity of player sales given that league funding is expected to be slashed next season. But Central Coast sold half of their championship team (and switched managers) and are now one win away from a treble. The Phoenix are built to rebuild. The academy is designed to replenish. This is how it’s supposed to work.

I've wondered about crowd sizes for the Nix for a long time, why is it for big matches we can sell out a stadium? For years I've always thoughtt we just dont have the population in wider Wellington to ghet 15k-20k regularly. Yet we get 33k+ for big matches. Is it a kiwi thing to only go to the big games? 
Take away the 300 away fans last weekend and that leaves 33k kiwis, even if you said hald of that were out of towners travelling for the event that leaves 16500 locals coming to watch the Nix. The question is why do they not turn out every home game??

because sometimes it rains.

Despite the final result, it was a great occasion. Great to see all the yellow shirts around Welly over the weekend. Hopefully a good proportion of the attendees will be inspired to go along to more regular season games. Fantastic work by the fans to make it special. Great times pre-game in the pubs. The march was spectacular. Big ups to those Yellow Fever people who put in the extra efforts to make it special. The total euphoria when Zawada scored will be remembered for a long time, until we get to a grand final perhaps, so maybe not so long after all!
Thankyou for a brilliant season Nix!

After Zawada scored and was completely overrun by Nix players, I keep thinking he's saying to them "Enough Adulation".

Now Saturday: Buzzing and excitement, further enhanced at the Old Bailey. Game kicks off with 33,295 making shark loads of noise, Highs, Melbourne scores, Lows. Nix score Extreme highs, Melbourne scores, extreme lows.

Yes, we lost, but we gave everything for 120 minutes. We didn't fold, didn't give up the ghost, we stayed in it. We could not have asked more from the team. They crowd were superb. I think the crowd ran out of puff, from emotional exhaustion in the 112th Minute, hence it went quiet. Very prou dof the team and fans.

Assuming that 20k were chancers out to enjoy a game, that would leave hopefully a crowd of 13k for next season. It will be interesting to see if the fairweather fans, bandwagoners whatever you wish to call them, come back next season to be counted? If the Nix have a crap season, will they stick around? I hope so. We have a base.

theprof

coochiee

https://theniche-cache.com/football/2024/5/20/notes-from-the-wellington-phoenixs-semi-final-defeat-vs-melbourne-victory

It gets better. That crowd was not only huge by Wellington standards... it’s actually the largest crowd of the entire A-League season and it’s not even close. Second-place was Sydney FC vs Western Sydney back in November which drew in 28,152 spectators... more than five thousand fewer than what the Nix had on Saturday night. Even a Melbourne Derby elimination final only got to 21,358 (sixth overall).

The grand final is being hosted by Central Coast whose stadium is smaller than this so nothing’s going to change with the decider. Across the past four seasons, there’s only been one instance of a larger crowd than what we saw at Sky Stadium on Saturday evening. A magnificent effort. An emphatic statement.


....Traore’s goal was only the third that the Nix have conceded from outside the penalty area all season. The previous one was Doka’s winner for CCM in stoppage time of that top-of-the-table clash.

....All the young lads are signed up. Granted, there is also a strong possibility of player sales given the form that some of the academy blokes showed. Maybe even a necessity of player sales given that league funding is expected to be slashed next season. But Central Coast sold half of their championship team (and switched managers) and are now one win away from a treble. The Phoenix are built to rebuild. The academy is designed to replenish. This is how it’s supposed to work.

I've wondered about crowd sizes for the Nix for a long time, why is it for big matches we can sell out a stadium? For years I've always thoughtt we just dont have the population in wider Wellington to ghet 15k-20k regularly. Yet we get 33k+ for big matches. Is it a kiwi thing to only go to the big games? 
Take away the 300 away fans last weekend and that leaves 33k kiwis, even if you said hald of that were out of towners travelling for the event that leaves 16500 locals coming to watch the Nix. The question is why do they not turn out every home game??

I think a big part is we don't have that membership culture.

So lots of people make their mind up on GameDay, or forget untill it's too late.

Untill I was a season pass holder I went to a game a year, if that.  I would just keep forgetting.  I bought a season pass and have hardly missed a game since.

But big games bring in interest from outside of the fanbase.  Before I got into football my ex went to that first semi-final game.  I asked why she went and she said to be part of the crowd.  Couldn't have given less of a shark about the football.

I reckon the countdown on the Dom post was a big part of the sellout crowd as FOMO kicked into full gear.

According to this article from Michael Burgess, 8k fans came from outside Wellington region.  And there certainly didn't look like the 300 odd Victory supporters that were rumoured to show up 

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martinb

Outpost

Bananas

Maaaaaaatt

Chris Kerr

Anywhere online to see that incident early on with Kosta?

We were out for dinner but getting a lot of asks about it

https://x.com/ParamountPlusAU/status/1791720867409416350

fudge me watching that again is frustrating as shark.

It looks like he's being yanked before he shoots which screams DOGSO.

And if it isn't a DOGSO surely it's still a foul in the box, which is a pen yeah?

I'd be very interested to hear Chris's comments on both contentious incidents. He is an ex-referee right? So he will have a much more nuanced understanding of why officials arrive at certain decisions, whereas most of us are often blinded by outrage. Which is often not helped by tv commentators having no real understanding of the rules either.

Like many I thought Azani's handball couldn't be given as a penalty because the ball came off his body onto his arm. This is apparently not so but unfortunately when Elder gave his reasons for awarding the penalty there was no audio so I'm still in the dark. If he's correct and that's the law then all I can say is the law is an ass!

Commentators said what was said by Elder that as the arm position was unnatural making the body unnaturally big (essentially a rugby charge down) before Arzani went in the challenge the ‘hit the body first’ thing didn’t apply. 

Which is the first I’ve heard of it, but the law seems like a mess. 

Oh,the law is a mess alright. No 2 people can come up with the same interpretation 

Procrastinixing

According to this article from Michael Burgess, 8k fans came from outside Wellington region.  And there certainly didn't look like the 300 odd Victory supporters that were rumoured to show up 

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There were 30 max.

There seemed to be more Victory fans chanting at the Backbencher pre-game than at the game. As far as out of towners, we had two fly down from Hamilton who had never been to a football game before. They were absolutely blown away by the atmosphere and tension.

Ryan

There seemed to be more Victory fans chanting at the Backbencher pre-game than at the game. As far as out of towners, we had two fly down from Hamilton who had never been to a football game before. They were absolutely blown away by the atmosphere and tension.

I think the weekend's games shows that the 2 derbies (maybe 3 if Canberra don't enter) next season are going to be big, potentially very big affairs. Especially if both teams are genuine playoff contenders, which you suspect will be the case.

The first one at Mt Smart (mooted for about Round 4) for novelty factor, and the 2nd one at the ROF (mooted for Waitangi Day) by which the playoff contenders will be taking shape. Had a quick look at The P.o.r.t FB page and they are already planning a large group travelling down to the ROF away derby.

Like the weekend, alot of casuals will be drawn to the significane of these first time derbies, and many who went on the weekend now know it can be a great fun night out. They may not go to another game all season, but they will turn up for the first derby at the ROF.

coochiee

Only football ⚽️
Iconic Nix moment ⚫️🟡
Had to be @pineynz 🎙️ https://t.co/pwBpLuKAhK

— Jacob Spoonley (@JacobSpoonley) May 19, 2024

I thought the OVH headed flick on was pretty blind and hopeful in the moment but that reverse angle shot actually shows it to be quite intentional touch.

We may have lost but we'll always have that moment

Stayed away from the forums for a few days. It was a hard loss to take. After 17 years, I really thought we were going to do it.
Really hope the league getting poorer next year will play into our hands, sort of how it did this year, but even more.
But I struggle to see us do better next year, it would just be too un-Phoenix like. Real shame.

Pretty dejected after the *result* but so many great memories from a very special weekend.

First things first - it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the huge effort from Yellow Fever exec/volunteers. Your sustained impassioned support of the club and the considerable mahi involved in those efforts may not be appreciated by all, but for what it's worth I can imagine, and thank you all for it.

In the words of a Foundation member who is no longer living in the city, it felt like a real reunion. People we haven't seen for many years, yet we could just continue where we left off. Then there was meeting new people that we'd only ever see online or on TV - all brought together through a mutual love affair with the Nix.

Then there were the Vuck fans. Meeting with the opposition supporters is always a highlight for me - rivals on the field, but humans connected by football off the field. Mutual respect for each other, and great banter.

The result was the only significant negative from the weekend. Was so good to see everyone again and looking forward to the next time so many of us can get together from around the country and the continent. Even if fleeting, it's good to be back.

Well put Ahmad and newzealand power.

It's been 4 days and I still catch myself feeling glum.  

This is disappointing, wonder if this was in any particular section? When the game is sold out, sit in your assigned seat, shouldn't be that hard. 

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