WPW R1 vs Melbourne City | Sun 20th November | 3:00pm | RoF
126 replies·32,363 views
over 3 years ago
Rollo
Kenyabold
“ What did he get wrong?” Whinham is a 10, definitely no striker and VDM is a left back
I do think Whinham will play as a 10, roaming behind a lone striker (perhaps I should've listed it as a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-2-3-1) but as you can see in these images taken from games last season Whinham was positioned very high without the ball. (In the first image LM Grace Jale is off camera, and in the second it's Whinham who pushes up to the left to put pressure on the ball not Jale). Lawrence has referred to her attack this season as a front "four" (and I don't think she's planning on playing Whinham out wide).
As for saying van der Meer will start right-back, well she did play a bit of right-back for Melbourne City last season (the team they're playing - she's on defence in the image below) image_123986672 (4).JPG123.71 KBPersonally I think Foster will nail down the starting role at left-back, I just pushed her forward for this game given all the injuries and the fact there's lots of fullbacks and picked the most versatile player to play midfield. But then I was thinking well if I'd have Foster as my starting left-back when everyone is fit and Vosper is there too, could van der Meer actually have a better chance of playing on the right? McMeeken didn't start right-back for the under-20s and maybe for this game it's better go with the more experienced options (Lawrence also suggested she won't start Clegg with Rolston out because it's too big an occasion).
I also would prefer Pritchard as a 9 and Satchell out wide but Pritchard has played out wide for the Phoenix and the Under-20s (while Lawrence has been assistant) and the Ferns use Satchell as a striker in a front two, so was more guessing what she'll do there.
Haven't seen any of the pre-season games they've arranged with the boys teams so I genuinely have no idea, but hopefully that explained my rationale.
Yep I see your rationale but having seen Foster play live recently for NR up here I doubt she has the speed to stop A League forwards getting around her. (Just as Vosper was occasionally exposed and then moved infield) But she is a v good versatile player for sure. I expect Whinham to be genuine 10, VDM LB and ZM RB
🔵 Head Coach Rado Vidosic is unwell and did not travel. Dario Vidosic takes the reins today. 🔵 Emma Checker (knee) and Karly Roestbakken (foot) miss today but are tracking well in their rehab.
BananaskwlapLT01martinb+5Monto, number8, Oi Oi Edgecumbe, Unknwn Quantity, WanderingSheep
over 3 years ago
Decent start!
Satchell what a terrier! Hassett class, Knott working hard, Taylor stamping her mark! Some of the younger one havent really gotten into the game yet though or occasion is getting to them - Whinham and Foster for me.
WHat has suprised me is the physicality. Nice to see the ref waving play on as well. Been a good watch. Anyone know the attendance?
Satchell what a terrier! Hassett class, Knott working hard, Taylor stamping her mark! Some of the younger one havent really gotten into the game yet though or occasion is getting to them - Whinham and Foster for me.
WHat has suprised me is the physicality. Nice to see the ref waving play on as well. Been a good watch. Anyone know the attendance?
They were aiming for an ALW attendance record of somewhere in the region of just over 6k.
At a guess it looks somewhere in the vicinity of 3,500-4,000.
over 3 years ago· edited over 3 years ago· History
Watching Taylor/Barry just makes me happy.
We’re very confident knocking the ball around from the centre circle to the box. And our high press has worked well. At least we seem to win the ball in their half a fair bit. Goal threat wise fairly anonymous so far.
Picking up from where they left off last season! Come on Phoenix!
yup. Looks like keeping the RWC up in Auckland and Whangarei was the right move, looks like Wellington doesn't really back women's sport
Oh fudge off mate. This is more expensive to go to than the rugby and far less of an occasion. If there's five thousand here today thats a great crowd.
Cracking first half. crap 2nd half. But lots to like about the team and lots of places where there is huge potential for growth. Can't wait until next week.
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
+ Barry and Taylor showing to be a great combination again Edwards made some good saves Foster has potential Hassett and Satchel as expected are already some of our better players
- Knott's passing was atrocious Whinham looked like she didn't want to be there McMeeken looked like she shouldn't be there
Hopefully we can put this one down to playing a very good team / big game nerves.
My guess was a bit off it seems, but very well done. 👏
Got more than the lads got last week too!
Wonder what kind of realistic targets are being set for attendances this season? Is 3-5k realistic once the novelty of this first match has worn off?
Solid enough signs in the first half from the ladies, but easy to see them run out of puff in the end. Absolutely bushwhacked from the 45th-75th minutes & perhaps can count themselves lucky it wasn't more.
Happy that we got a goal, unlucky not to get a 2nd with Lancaster's late strike coming back off the post. But at least there is something to work with at both ends. Quite happy with that first half performance overall - shows we can play and control games, but we've got to be able to compete for the full 90.
I really love this team ay, tough to lose 4-1 but it didn’t feel like we got demolished. I think we’ve got a lot of potential and will look pretty decent once everyone’s fit, we’ve done some tinkering and have the best XI + formation sorted.
Need to sharpen up our passing first, it was an issue last season and caused a lot of turnovers. Also a bit worried about our goal scoring without a focal point like Jale, but Rollo and Clegg should hopefully fill that void.
In terms of the crowd, despite being well under the 10k target, it was awesome to break that regular season record and definitely felt like there were a lot of new fans around. Heard a lot of people explaining the nix to their friends and whānau and it felt like there were a lot more kids and women than usual. The one thing I was disappointed about was the number of people in the Fever Zone, but those of us who were there were in great voice.
Sucks to lose but there’s just an aura around this team and I feel that we’ll definitely get some moments to celebrate this season.
Given how well City did last season, I did expect us to be underdogs, still disappointing conceding all those goals after a great fight in the 1st half, but positive signs. Think we'll have better luck next week against WU, crowd will probably be smaller but still hope it's a decent turnout.
over 3 years ago· edited over 3 years ago· History
I don't know any of the players. First half was good, won a lot of ball. The 11 was great in midfield, aided by the 13. The no.4 defender looked strong. We were pretty lightweight upfront though.
Second half the Melbourne 19 killed us, helped by some woeful passing and defence. We stopped winning the ball and started giving it away.
Given how well City did last season, I did expect us to be underdogs, still disappointing conceding all those goals after a great fight in the 1st half, but positive signs. Think we'll have better luck next week against WU, crowd will probably be smaller but still hope it's a decent turnout.
TAB was paying $6 for a draw and heaps more for a Nix win. So we were pretty heavy underdog's.
Was feeling good at half time with my cheeky 5er on both.
Throughly enjoyed that despite the loss. Our girls played well in the first half and could have quite easily been up. Swamped a bit in the second half but mostly stuck to the task. I will be back. As for those moaning about the crowd you can fudge off best stand alone crowd in the A League Womans some of you obviously havnt bothered to find out what attendances are like in Aussie.
+ Barry and Taylor showing to be a great combination again Edwards made some good saves Foster has potential Hassett and Satchel as expected are already some of our better players
- Knott's passing was atrocious Whinham looked like she didn't want to be there McMeeken looked like she shouldn't be there
Hopefully we can put this one down to playing a very good team / big game nerves.
some of these comments are unnecessary, bordering on cruel. Give these girls a break for Christ’s sake. All three looked good in patches but yes they were not 100% and I’m sure they’d acknowledge it.
No need to stick the boot in - it’s the first game!
Knott was very solid last year; McMeekan had an excellent first season, and Whinham showed huge potential.
+ Barry and Taylor showing to be a great combination again Edwards made some good saves Foster has potential Hassett and Satchel as expected are already some of our better players
- Knott's passing was atrocious Whinham looked like she didn't want to be there McMeeken looked like she shouldn't be there
Hopefully we can put this one down to playing a very good team / big game nerves.
some of these comments are unnecessary, bordering on cruel. Give these girls a break for Christ’s sake. All three looked good in patches but yes they were not 100% and I’m sure they’d acknowledge it.
No need to stick the boot in - it’s the first game!
Knott was very solid last year; McMeekan had an excellent first season, and Whinham showed huge potential.
Pull your head in.
It's pretty fair criticism though, I'm not sure why you're taking offense? The men's team cops far harsher criticism than that and I'm sure no one bats an eyelid. Some players were bad, its not mean to point them out, they're professional athletes.
Don't treat them like children that you can't critique, it's weird.
+ Barry and Taylor showing to be a great combination again Edwards made some good saves Foster has potential Hassett and Satchel as expected are already some of our better players
- Knott's passing was atrocious Whinham looked like she didn't want to be there McMeeken looked like she shouldn't be there
Hopefully we can put this one down to playing a very good team / big game nerves.
some of these comments are unnecessary, bordering on cruel. Give these girls a break for Christ’s sake. All three looked good in patches but yes they were not 100% and I’m sure they’d acknowledge it.
No need to stick the boot in - it’s the first game!
Knott was very solid last year; McMeekan had an excellent first season, and Whinham showed huge potential.
Pull your head in.
It's pretty fair criticism though, I'm not sure why you're taking offense? The men's team cops far harsher criticism than that and I'm sure no one bats an eyelid. Some players were bad, its not mean to point them out, they're professional athletes.
Don't treat them like children that you can't critique, it's weird.
+ Barry and Taylor showing to be a great combination again Edwards made some good saves Foster has potential Hassett and Satchel as expected are already some of our better players
- Knott's passing was atrocious Whinham looked like she didn't want to be there McMeeken looked like she shouldn't be there
Hopefully we can put this one down to playing a very good team / big game nerves.
some of these comments are unnecessary, bordering on cruel. Give these girls a break for Christ’s sake. All three looked good in patches but yes they were not 100% and I’m sure they’d acknowledge it.
No need to stick the boot in - it’s the first game!
Knott was very solid last year; McMeekan had an excellent first season, and Whinham showed huge potential.
Pull your head in.
McMeeken looked fine to me first half, i was impressed actually. Something went wrong over the far side second half, i was too far away to point finger.