WPM R24 v WSW | Sat 29th March | 5:00pm | ROF

Nice to have shirts off even if it didn’t last. We need to work on the words for our “Chico Geraldes” chant though.

hepatitis

Fascinating to see Des interview Chiefy, chief looked nervous. 

Young players did well against a top team. I like LKH in this position, his ball skills and vision are good

des interviewed chief? wow, too good

I think we can assume from the fact that Des was on the panel interviewing Chiefy that he isn't open to taking over at the Nix and isn't a threat to Chiefy's job. If he is, maybe it is a bit unprofessional of Sky to force Chiefy to do a post match interview with him. 

hepatitis

Fascinating to see Des interview Chiefy, chief looked nervous. 

Young players did well against a top team. I like LKH in this position, his ball skills and vision are good

 

Nice to watch the interplay between Geraldes, Kosta, Ishige, Sutton, Nagasawa and LKH on the left. More of this please.
Also the power and directness of LBS and Piper on the right.
Good performance.

Shirt auction if anyone is interested,  no surprise that Kostas is already the most popular. 

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/search?member_listing=1069895&bof=bHtebbjZ&fbclid=IwY2xjawJUeCdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHRKVUkwMHLzDUIweeF5LfuNsJGwDBv_sGFLNGog-UUCHg4FCDlI-kNE5wg_aem_oC8esYG8unJOKYd7QiCnLg

Nice attacking display against a very good side. Hats off to Chiefy. He’s changed the tactics and it’s paying off. Shame he didn’t do it earlier. We looked tired near the end and the defending for their second goal wasn’t great but it was some strike. I was dreading the run in to the end of the season but if they keep playing like this then it will be fun.

For me th biggest difference was not having Wooten. 

I like him, but his passing is so limited. Payne release through the middle today to release Kosta that led to the goal would never happen with wooten in the backline.

Just like you need the right keeper, you need the right center backs for a system.

Well that was an enjoyable performance overall. Didn't think going into the match that  I'd feel a little disappointed to only come away with a point!

Josh is certainly better when we play in a way that suits him (not playing out from the back)

Tim Payne moving into Phoenix legend status - Geraldes best attacking creative player weve had since Paul Ifill. And so similar in style of play.
Youngsters did well, as did Josh, and Ishige and Nagasawa looked good.
Excellent performance overall. Good game to watch.

Didn't watch the game but seems there are some positives to take away from it. 2 points out of a possible 15 in our last 5 still ain't good though. Here's hoping the team can continu to improve to lay the groundwork for next season 

What's wrong with Rojas btw?  Does he even want to play football these days?

Suggest you front up and ask him

Banzai!...AIEEE!!!

What's wrong with Rojas btw?  Does he even want to play football these days?

I can’t.  Because I’m injured.

Alf Tupper

Suggest you front up and ask him

Banzai!...AIEEE!!!

What's wrong with Rojas btw?  Does he even want to play football these days?

Banzai!...AIEEE!!!

I can’t.  Because I’m injured.

Alf Tupper

Suggest you front up and ask him

Banzai!...AIEEE!!!

What's wrong with Rojas btw?  Does he even want to play football these days?

That's be the response ytou'd get from him. Brinign him back was just bad business.

Alf Tupper

Tim Payne moving into Phoenix legend status - Geraldes best attacking creative player weve had since Paul Ifill. And so similar in style of play.
Youngsters did well, as did Josh, and Ishige and Nagasawa looked good.
Excellent performance overall. Good game to watch.

Yeah it was entertaining, result not so much. We have to get Geraldes on contract asap. In the 3 aearances he's made he has lifted the whole team, even Nasgasawa and Ishige looked better with him floating around.

theprof

Alf Tupper

Tim Payne moving into Phoenix legend status - Geraldes best attacking creative player weve had since Paul Ifill. And so similar in style of play.
Youngsters did well, as did Josh, and Ishige and Nagasawa looked good.
Excellent performance overall. Good game to watch.

Yeah it was entertaining, result not so much. We have to get Geraldes on contract asap. In the 3 aearances he's made he has lifted the whole team, even Nasgasawa and Ishige looked better with him floating around.

 
We need to sign a new coach with a better football vision, no superstition, instead a winning mentality. Italiano: ‘I’ll be fine, I find a new job’
Sign a top playmaker like Chico, resign Sutton, Wootton, and we should be fine to be a least top six.
We need to challenge Auckland.

Honestly not a bad watch, not only did we score a goal but we scored two. We had good aggression against an in form team and it was honestly fun to watch (ignoring the late equaliser)

My only complaint is that we just had to start looking good once we had no chance of finals. Like seriously? We couldn't play like this all season. If we keep improving I might be more open to Chief staying but we'll see

Noah4thenix

Honestly not a bad watch, not only did we score a goal but we scored two. We had good aggression against an in form team and it was honestly fun to watch (ignoring the late equaliser)

My only complaint is that we just had to start looking good once we had no chance of finals. Like seriously? We couldn't play like this all season. If we keep improving I might be more open to Chief staying but we'll see

playing like we did yesterday relies on one thing, having the creative players in the squad to do it. if Rojas had been match fit when he arrrived and not gotten injured then maybe he dould have done what Chico is doing for the team now.

Chico was terrific, awesome combo with Kosta developing. Impressed with LKH in the midfield, Piper too. Add Rufer in to last night's lineup and we are looking quite good.

Kosta was mostly by himself up front (4 1 4 1?) This time, his defensive job seemed to be preventing backpasses, ie forcing WSW to play forward into a line of 5 mids, where, outnumbered, they often lost possession.
That also saved his energy for attacks, rather than wasting it on shuttles.
Plus he was available as an immediate target after a turnover, instead of being dragged back to defend.
He even managed a few steals from behind, legally for a change.
It all worked well.

I think players stepped up because the new coach was in the stadium and they where keen to show off.

Chihco's press conference afterwards was worthwhile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnOMtSIMFak&t=235s&ab_channel=WellingtonPhoenixFC
Second half was quite funny when he talked about swimming with sharks.
It was Mick Jagger who called Invercargill the arsehole of the world in 1965.

Feverish

Defence for that goal was pathetic 

Yep, you know when Payne looks up to complain to the referee, he’s been done and a goal’s coming. Hopefully that’ll mean we don’t consider him a potential starter CB in a 2 for next season. He jumped out of line before that and got air and we were lucky not to concede. 

MetalLegNZ

For me th biggest difference was not having Wooten. 

I like him, but his passing is so limited. Payne release through the middle today to release Kosta that led to the goal would never happen with wooten in the backline.

Just like you need the right keeper, you need the right center backs for a system.

Hmm crumbs. Payney giveth and he taketh away…
I see your point, boy’s got some serious assists, but also we won’t be involved in so many boring goalless matches…

Chico has certainly been a major positive. He is so good on the ball, it gives the team an outlet. Everyone looks better with him on the field. Sounds like he enjoys being here. The interview was very funny. Sign him ASAP. Unfortunately its the end of the road for Rojas. Great player once,  but you cant hold a place for him next season hoping he will be fit to play

I'd like to see how Rojas could play with Chico as well. Hope he gets the chance.

Good game to watch with many positives. Those complaining about about performance should look at the record to date for WSW and our record to date. This draw feels kinda like a win to me.
Some commented that not having Wootton was the main advantage. I am not sure about that (no opinion), but to me it was more important that we did not have Retre on the field, which gave us more direction to the distribution in the DM part of the park.  Intersting how we played without Rufer (I expected a pasting, but no).

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

I'd like to see how Rojas could play with Chico as well. Hope he gets the chance.

Not saying you jinxed it, but…

I have to say, the WSW fan celebrating in front of the fever zone during the half time entertainment was hilarious.