I hope this is exactly the attitude he takes with starting LBS each game.
8 games, once a week, with a sub at 70 or 80 if tiring, isn’t going to overload him.
With the competition, dude’s gotta perform. Can we say it hurt Surman to lose his place? Getting your place and performing consistently, fine. But Khartum and Mileusnic and others should be allowed to push him for that in training.
And also the Piper-Eze thing. Piper had some shots saved, and Eze, who knows- probably preferred the centre? But I think they can and should work together up front. I don’t want Piper at CB. There’s LKH,James, Payne and Sheridan to cover there. Piper isn’t Koeman.
about 1 month ago· edited about 1 month ago· History
AucklandPhoenix
I hope this is exactly the attitude he takes with starting LBS each game.
8 games, once a week, with a sub at 70 or 80 if tiring, isn’t going to overload him.
I don't think it's a loading issue with LBS, it's just that he's got to earn his spot. For me he still loses the ball too much, and/or takes the wrong option too often.
I mean Chiefy was bringing GSR into match day squads almost ahead of Pounds.
You'd think yes Greeny is more likely to play the Weenix youngsters given his long time at the Academy. But as he says himself in the Stuff article they have to earn the chance to play. From memory at the U20 WC, Greeny didn't always start LBS. Walker did the best of the young Nix attackers in Chile.
Worth noting LBS played on the left under Greenie at the U20 WC (and Bullock at the U17 qualifiers), and was far more involved and effective cutting inside than he was on the right at that stage in his development. Armiento ahead of him now of course if that 3ATB goes
Just remind ourselves that change happened not because of Josh’s error, but because of the team’s reaction to it. We’ve seen them win down to 10 and we’ve seen them fight back for a point from 2 down. It was the way they just forgot how to play football collectively. No one pulled them together. No one picked Josh up. They were beaten by a freak goal.
Look at how Akl and the Port swung in behind their keeper. We’re missing a bit of that. We don’t have to be mongrels, but we do have to find our fight and desire.
about 1 month ago· edited about 1 month ago· History
Nommag
anaveragestem
Just watched the interviews up on youtube with Greenie, Rufer and Hughes.
Great interviews. Lots of interesting stuff from Greenie. Main thing is I just like the sound of where he wants to take the playing group. Little tweaks to the playstyle but mainly just getting all the players competing heavily for positions is what we need. Sounds like training was extremely competitive and the lads have some fire under them. Good to hear.
Also, every time I see Hughes interviewed I'm glad. I think he is very articulate, he doesn't just give standard answers that you see from a lot of players. Great to listen to. After listening to him and seeing his onfield performances improve over the years I think he'll be one hell of a player in a year or two.
Greenie interviewed well. The bit that stood out to me was the discussion about Piper as a centre back. It would be interesting, but not surprising if the back pairing was piper and Hughes. Maybe not this week with eze out but the following weeks. James and tuiloma have been average to poor at best and Piper gives the game 300 percent, he also doesn't pair well upfront with eze.
for context, Greenie was responding to where he sees Piper and mentioned when he first came down he played in the reserves at cb (he was brought down as a defender, that's well documented) , but also mentioned now gives defenders a hard time. I don't think it was conclusive at all that Piper is a cb in Greenie's eyes at present.
Hughes will look like a good player in a better team, as will a lot of these guys. It's hard as a CB when the team as a whole is basically a leaky boat.
This is how'd I like to line up this weekend. Assuming Payne is fit to start, if not Sheridan comes in for him. And while it's a 2-3 in the middle, I see if more as a flat 5 when we don't have the ball. My alternative would be a 4-2-2-2, with piper coming in for Naji and going up front with Kartum going wide. Screenshot_20260226-183801.png264.17 KB
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
Half a PintkwlapLT01ninixin+2WanderingSheep, WhoStoleMySock
about 1 month ago
Fully agree with this. All 3 interviews were good. No bullshark. Very authentic and considered answers.
Hughes was particularly impressive.
anaveragestem
Just watched the interviews up on youtube with Greenie, Rufer and Hughes.
Great interviews. Lots of interesting stuff from Greenie. Main thing is I just like the sound of where he wants to take the playing group. Little tweaks to the playstyle but mainly just getting all the players competing heavily for positions is what we need. Sounds like training was extremely competitive and the lads have some fire under them. Good to hear.
Also, every time I see Hughes interviewed I'm glad. I think he is very articulate, he doesn't just give standard answers that you see from a lot of players. Great to listen to. After listening to him and seeing his onfield performances improve over the years I think he'll be one hell of a player in a year or two.
Fully agree with this. All 3 interviews were good. No bullshark. Very authentic and considered answers.
Hughes was particularly impressive.
anaveragestem
Just watched the interviews up on youtube with Greenie, Rufer and Hughes.
Great interviews. Lots of interesting stuff from Greenie. Main thing is I just like the sound of where he wants to take the playing group. Little tweaks to the playstyle but mainly just getting all the players competing heavily for positions is what we need. Sounds like training was extremely competitive and the lads have some fire under them. Good to hear.
Also, every time I see Hughes interviewed I'm glad. I think he is very articulate, he doesn't just give standard answers that you see from a lot of players. Great to listen to. After listening to him and seeing his onfield performances improve over the years I think he'll be one hell of a player in a year or two.
I agree but in all honestly seems like we have been here done that before and its certainly not the first time. Its well and good talking about it but its the doing it that will count and consistently not just the odd game here and there. Unlike some i will continue to turn up and support them but its way past time they gave us something back.
about 1 month ago· edited about 1 month ago· History
I thought Greenie's press conference was very well delivered, and a timely message for players and fans alike.
Now this is a small thing as well that I'd picked up on over time, so take it with a grain of salt - because everyone will have different mannerisms about them when someone is asking questions in front of a camera - but what was good for me is that he held eye contact and was a straight shooter with his answers. It just felt reassuring and calm. Almost a sense of some steely determination.
With Chiefy he came across just as well, but it felt fidgety to me - lots of sideways glances, looking away and hand movements. It's not a criticism of him in any way either, but just something I'd noticed as his time at the club wore on.
Guess we'll see if all the talk cuts the mustard come Sunday though!
It does seem very rinse and repeat with the media conferences for quite sometime. I've heard every week that the players are pumped but it's just empty promises at this point. Time to put words into actions otherwise they stop meaning anything.
I'll be there rain or shine, just hope they are too. ballane
Alf Tupper
Fully agree with this. All 3 interviews were good. No bullshark. Very authentic and considered answers.
Hughes was particularly impressive.
anaveragestem
Just watched the interviews up on youtube with Greenie, Rufer and Hughes.
Great interviews. Lots of interesting stuff from Greenie. Main thing is I just like the sound of where he wants to take the playing group. Little tweaks to the playstyle but mainly just getting all the players competing heavily for positions is what we need. Sounds like training was extremely competitive and the lads have some fire under them. Good to hear.
Also, every time I see Hughes interviewed I'm glad. I think he is very articulate, he doesn't just give standard answers that you see from a lot of players. Great to listen to. After listening to him and seeing his onfield performances improve over the years I think he'll be one hell of a player in a year or two.
I agree but in all honestly seems like we have been here done that before and its certainly not the first time. Its well and good talking about it but its the doing it that will count and consistently not just the odd game here and there. Unlike some i will continue to turn up and support them but its way past time they gave us something back.
I suspect Greenie will be pragmatic with such a short turnaround. Dont expect lots of youngsters. He cant do much in a couple of trainings apart from try and get their heads in a good place and makesure they are organised. It seems he prefers four at the back. This maybe completely out there but what about Tuiloma moving back into the DM role. Thats where he made his name at Marseille under Bielsa. Our defense has been terrible. IMO Nagasawa is too lightweight for a deep AL midfielder. Tuiloma has an excellent passing game but importantly him screening in front of the CBs Hughes and James would give our defense more muscle
about 1 month ago· edited about 1 month ago· History
If it's a back 4, and with Payne out Tuiloma may end up at RB, against SFC.
With a 26 man squad he's probably going to the World Cup, but with regards playing time it will be far more likely as a RB than a CB (Surman, Boxy, Bindon and even Pijnaker ahead of him). He'll be keen to get some mins on the right flank for the Nix.
Don't think he's played as a DM for about 10 years - since leaving France. Has a nice passing game, but he's also prone to being dispossessed when pressed. Less a problem on the flank than deep midfield.
The Nix fans are understandably angry about the state of the club. However we have nothing on the Italians. The Torino fans just dumped a truck load of manure in the enterance to the training ground with a banner saying "Eat shiite management"
The Nix fans are understandably angry about the state of the club. However we have nothing on the Italians. The Torino fans just dumped a truck load of manure in the enterance to the training ground with a banner saying "Eat shiite management"
At least we wouldn’t need to travel far. Just pop down to lyall bay.
ananaveragestemdunnixLGMoMonto+3Oi Oi Edgecumbe, Simon B, Tyborg
about 1 month ago
saying the press conferences sound very rinse and repeat and blaming the responders for that is ignoring the fact that the press ask the same questions week in week out - theres only so many ways you can answer "what's the pla for this week", "how will you cope with .....?"
I suspect Greenie will be pragmatic with such a short turnaround. Dont expect lots of youngsters. He cant do much in a couple of trainings apart from try and get their heads in a good place and makesure they are organised. It seems he prefers four at the back. This maybe completely out there but what about Tuiloma moving back into the DM role. Thats where he made his name at Marseille under Bielsa. Our defense has been terrible. IMO Nagasawa is too lightweight for a deep AL midfielder. Tuiloma has an excellent passing game but importantly him screening in front of the CBs Hughes and James would give our defense more muscle
Our defence doesn't need more muscle...it needs more communicaiton and organizagtion. The man marking has been terrible this season with defenders leaving attackers unmarked. May's goal from the cutback pass last week was about as good an example of the issue with defending.
There were 3 defenders in the box and ony May was there. After he shot all the defenders were looking at each other thinking "I thought he was yours". Versions of this have happened way too many times this season.
It appears as if Chiefy had been going for an attacking brand of football this year in an effort to win back the fans...but in the process hasn't paid enough attention to the detail of defending. We have some good defenders, but they just aren't organised.
We have the worst defence record in the league by some margin (38 goals conceded v 29 next worst). Surely this has to be Greenie's focus and the low-hanging fruit of what can be done to steady the ship.
I'm not sure Tuiloma is the right guy to be playing 6. His touch just doesn't seem that secure at times and think he could struggle receiving back to goal and getting turns away to get the ball forward. Could see him bouncing to the CB's a lot and that's not going to help us.
Nagasawa maybe a bit lightweight but he's good at finding space and getting the ball forward. Being out-muscled in defence has not been our problem.
coochieeKiwiMancunianLT01number8+3Oi Oi Edgecumbe, theprof, WanderingSheep
about 1 month ago
As far as our young players go i would much prefer to see Greenie give them a decent shot at some game time. Not sure they are going to be any worse than any of the senior players who got us in the position . In some cases with contracts that are expiring at the end of the season and unlikely to be renewed. At least we would then have some idea about which of them are worth persevering with.
This squad says a bit already about Greenacre's rating of players vs Italiano. He's picked three keepers, including McCarron, who IMO is not A keague standard. For the very minor benefit of having three more days to have to work out who his bench keeper should be, (and after one training session only), Greenacre omitted several players. Seems he's not thinking about fielding them any time soon, barring injuries.
So who are these players? - GSR, who didn't show much in his A league minutes, yet Italiano recently preferred him to LBS. (In passing Greenacre's squad also includes Supyk, who he must rate well ahead of GSR.) - Jayden Smith, who looked a bit slow in his few minutes, but a perennial squad member under Italiano, even though Payne, LKH, and Sheridan could cover CB. - Conchie, who IMO lacked vision and creativity, yet played 10 under italiano - Cassidy - Munro I agree with Greenacre's apparent rating of Smith, GSR and Conchie. I also think Italiano overrated Sheridan and Najjarine (still good enough for this squad though). Cassidy and Munro, too few minutes to say. Hope they get a chance.
HattyCW
Payne won't be available again, but Edwards is back.
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Manjrekar JAMES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC, 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 12. Dan EDWARDS, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 16. Sander KARTUM, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE, 23. Luke SUPYK, 24. XUAN LOKE, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 28. Bill TUILOMA, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk).
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 12. Dan EDWARDS (promoted), 23. Luke SUPYK (promoted), 40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk) (promoted).
Outs: 7. Ifeanyi EZE (suspended), 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES (omitted), 39. Jayden SMITH (omitted).
I thought Greenie's press conference was very well delivered, and a timely message for players and fans alike.
Now this is a small thing as well that I'd picked up on over time, so take it with a grain of salt - because everyone will have different mannerisms about them when someone is asking questions in front of a camera - but what was good for me is that he held eye contact and was a straight shooter with his answers. It just felt reassuring and calm. Almost a sense of some steely determination.
With Chiefy he came across just as well, but it felt fidgety to me - lots of sideways glances, looking away and hand movements. It's not a criticism of him in any way either, but just something I'd noticed as his time at the club wore on.
Guess we'll see if all the talk cuts the mustard come Sunday though!
COYN.
Cool observations.
Cheify had the chin lift going overtime in moments as well. Just an observation; we're all different.
I suspect Greenie will be pragmatic with such a short turnaround. Dont expect lots of youngsters. He cant do much in a couple of trainings apart from try and get their heads in a good place and makesure they are organised. It seems he prefers four at the back. This maybe completely out there but what about Tuiloma moving back into the DM role. Thats where he made his name at Marseille under Bielsa. Our defense has been terrible. IMO Nagasawa is too lightweight for a deep AL midfielder. Tuiloma has an excellent passing game but importantly him screening in front of the CBs Hughes and James would give our defense more muscle
Italiano didn’t tell any of his players, leaving them to find out from the media – or, in Hughes’s case, through Corban Piper’s mum on the drive home.
“I thought, is that real? I didn’t believe it. We got home, me, Corban and Shez [Matthew Sheridan], and we were all disappointed because Chief gave us all our first pro contracts and we owe a lot to him,” Hughes said.
“He’s really supported us as people and as footballers. To find out he has resigned, it was pretty upsetting.”
Only 21 and into his third season with the Phoenix, Hughes described Saturday’s thrashing by Auckland as the worst moment of his young career.
It was the Phoenix’s sixth defeat in as many derbies and their second by a five-goal margin.
Italiano said afterwards that he would be a calling for the coach’s head if his beloved Sampdoria lost a derby 5-0.
.........Hughes knows Greenacre well from the academy and described the club’s former striker as a proud Phoenix man.
“When I was in the academy if you were to lose a small-sided game by more than two goals you’d have to do extra running and the sports scientist would be pulling his hair out,” Hughes said.
“But Greeny is very much like ‘you don’t go under, you don’t give in.’ When that is emphasized every day the pride in the shirt comes naturally.”
Felt nice to hear Greenie speak about how much the club means to him in his presser, especially when he describes the club as feeling like it's 'his' club.
Slim pickings for nice things about our club at the moment but that guy has a lot of pride in the badge, and that can only be a positive.
Feels like "pride in the badge" has been whittled away over the last couple of seasons, both with the fans, and then the players - last week especially there was clearly no pride or desire left.
Feels like "pride in the badge" has been whittled away over the last couple of seasons, both with the fans, and then the players - last week especially there was clearly no pride or desire left.
Would suggest its longer than a couple of seasons. Would also suggest its not just players who have lost pride in the badge. Looking at some of the comments by some so called fans across social media many of them have also lost it and the ability to understand what supporting your team is.
ananaveragestemAucklandPhoenixbrbrookemcocoyn3864+6Half a Pint, Jazzy Jeff, kwlap, Nelfoos, theprof, WhoStoleMySock
about 1 month ago· edited about 1 month ago· History
if happy clapper is indicative of my constant support and never giving up on the club then I'll wear it, I'll always be proud of the club and the fact we have it here in Wellington. Nothing will change that.
Italiano didn’t tell any of his players, leaving them to find out from the media – or, in Hughes’s case, through Corban Piper’s mum on the drive home.
“I thought, is that real? I didn’t believe it. We got home, me, Corban and Shez [Matthew Sheridan], and we were all disappointed because Chief gave us all our first pro contracts and we owe a lot to him,” Hughes said.
“He’s really supported us as people and as footballers. To find out he has resigned, it was pretty upsetting.”
Only 21 and into his third season with the Phoenix, Hughes described Saturday’s thrashing by Auckland as the worst moment of his young career.
It was the Phoenix’s sixth defeat in as many derbies and their second by a five-goal margin.
Italiano said afterwards that he would be a calling for the coach’s head if his beloved Sampdoria lost a derby 5-0.
.........Hughes knows Greenacre well from the academy and described the club’s former striker as a proud Phoenix man.
“When I was in the academy if you were to lose a small-sided game by more than two goals you’d have to do extra running and the sports scientist would be pulling his hair out,” Hughes said.
“But Greeny is very much like ‘you don’t go under, you don’t give in.’ When that is emphasized every day the pride in the shirt comes naturally.”
I love that pro footballers still arrange a lift home with someones mum
Feels like "pride in the badge" has been whittled away over the last couple of seasons, both with the fans, and then the players - last week especially there was clearly no pride or desire left.
Would suggest its longer than a couple of seasons. Would also suggest its not just players who have lost pride in the badge. Looking at some of the comments by some so called fans across social media many of them have also lost it and the ability to understand what supporting your team is.
You certainly seem to imply that anyone that doesnt support the team the same way that you do isn't a real fan a lot. No true scotsman and all that.
about 1 month ago· edited about 1 month ago· History
Monto
ballane
theprof
Feels like "pride in the badge" has been whittled away over the last couple of seasons, both with the fans, and then the players - last week especially there was clearly no pride or desire left.
Would suggest its longer than a couple of seasons. Would also suggest its not just players who have lost pride in the badge. Looking at some of the comments by some so called fans across social media many of them have also lost it and the ability to understand what supporting your team is.
You certainly seem to imply that anyone that doesnt support the team the same way that you do isn't a real fan a lot. No true scotsman and all that.
Really not sure how you read what i wrote to mean "imply that anyone that dosnt support the team the same way you do isn't a real fan". In saying that you bet im calling out some of those who write the utter crap i have seen across social media as being written by so called fans, because some of whats written jsnt said by fans of or about their team.
Feels like "pride in the badge" has been whittled away over the last couple of seasons, both with the fans, and then the players - last week especially there was clearly no pride or desire left.
Would suggest its longer than a couple of seasons. Would also suggest its not just players who have lost pride in the badge. Looking at some of the comments by some so called fans across social media many of them have also lost it and the ability to understand what supporting your team is.
You certainly seem to imply that anyone that doesnt support the team the same way that you do isn't a real fan a lot. No true scotsman and all that.
I mean I understand his frustrations with some 'fans' on here. Some people are genuinely only here to post negative things and deride the club. They're typically of the opinion that the club is rotten to the core and want to go razed earth on the phoenix. It is tiring to read.
You won't ever see these posters in match threads after a win. Or, they they only comment negative things even after a win. I just roll my eyes at it, why even bother supporting if this is how you feel, it looks tiring from an outside perspective. Still, everyone is welcome despite differing opinions.
Im happy to be called a happy clapper if I means im a positive person.
@nixin above Interesting talk about Sheridan and Najjirine.
I think Sheridan hasn’t been overrated, but relied upon to plug gaps. Probably to his own detriment. Jack of all trades and a master of none.
Najjirine. Yeh. Frustrating guy, but also seemed to do a lot of running and be involved a lot. I think most of us saw the poor things he did but missed when he was a link in a good chain passing or pressing.
I don’t think Chief thought they were top players, but both of them were reliable in some ways.
And for me I like Sheridan. But he’s never a left back. The speed Edwards is back is suspicious.
And of all the others Cassidy is the most interesting. I’ve seen him twice. He’s been good twice. Retre preferred for now.
McCarron and Edwards. If three CBs then LKH can cover Armiento at LWB. Based on the limited time he's had, Loke IMO has talent and is a potential game changer. Fast, skillful, energetic, good on attack, presses well, can beat a player. There are several big name low impact players I'd drop before him. Sheridan hasn't really kicked on since debut. And has been giving the ball away cheaply. Yes, perhaps he has been mucked around too much.martinb
@nixin above Interesting talk about Sheridan and Najjirine.
I think Sheridan hasn’t been overrated, but relied upon to plug gaps. Probably to his own detriment. Jack of all trades and a master of none.
Najjirine. Yeh. Frustrating guy, but also seemed to do a lot of running and be involved a lot. I think most of us saw the poor things he did but missed when he was a link in a good chain passing or pressing.
I don’t think Chief thought they were top players, but both of them were reliable in some ways.
And for me I like Sheridan. But he’s never a left back. The speed Edwards is back is suspicious.
And of all the others Cassidy is the most interesting. I’ve seen him twice. He’s been good twice. Retre preferred for now.
+3
