WPW R2 vs Western United | Sat 26th November | 3:00pm | RoF

Western beat the highly rated Victory team in Round 1, so this will be another big test for the team.

I'd like to see Candy get a go in goal. And Cicco and Lancaster to get more minutes. Start or off the bench. Thought they both looked good when they came on last game.
To get a result out of this game Knott and Whinham both will needs to find there passing boots. I hope they are doing plenty of work this week on making the simple pass when its on and making it stick.

The main conclusions from last week were that Taylor isnt a footballer. She has to go. The keeper had her moments, but was a bit diminutive and lacking strength for me. I seriously hope we have better options. 

Fenix

The main conclusions from last week were that Taylor isnt a footballer. She has to go. The keeper had her moments, but was a bit diminutive and lacking strength for me. I seriously hope we have better options. 

dude, she's 19! So still developing as a footballer, she was easily one of our best last season!
Brianna Edwards is our #2 keeper Lily Alfield is #1 and will be back, but none of the 3 keeper we have are tall by keepers standards, but then I dont think many keepers in the women's game are really tall.

Fenix

The main conclusions from last week were that Taylor isnt a footballer. She has to go. The keeper had her moments, but was a bit diminutive and lacking strength for me. I seriously hope we have better options. 

Wow on one game you obviously didnt watch any of the games last year in which she was a standout and was labled by many as a great young talent. If you discard players on the basis of one bad game there arnt going to be many left.

Fenix

The main conclusions from last week were that Taylor isnt a footballer. She has to go. The keeper had her moments, but was a bit diminutive and lacking strength for me. I seriously hope we have better options. 

Bit premature given she was one of the standout players last season

theprof

Fenix

The main conclusions from last week were that Taylor isnt a footballer. She has to go. The keeper had her moments, but was a bit diminutive and lacking strength for me. I seriously hope we have better options. 

dude, she's 19! So still developing as a footballer, she was easily one of our best last season!
Brianna Edwards is our #2 keeper Lily Alfield is #1 and will be back, but none of the 3 keeper we have are tall by keepers standards, but then I dont think many keepers in the women's game are really tall.

My wife is 6ft, and I keep telling my daughter that if she's that tall when she's grown she'll be one of the best keepers in the business. If she doesn't give up football in favour of being a princess, which is her other career plan

To be fair, if you analyse Taylor on those two goal moments - she needs to go back to defending 101 classes 

Shsh guys Fenix just caught himself being happy. Had to quickly make up for it or his reputation for being miserable on the forum would be ruined! 

Feverish

To be fair, if you analyse Taylor on those two goal moments - she needs to go back to defending 101 classes 

true, they were basic errors, but dumping her is not gonna improve that. Put it down to big occassion, first home game nerves, drop in concentration - not lack of ability.

Wellington Phoenix squad:  2. Saskia VOSPER, 3. Kate TAYLOR, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 7. Chloe KNOTT, 9. Ava PRITCHARD, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Betsy HASSETT, 12. Brianna EDWARDS (gk), 13. Paige SATCHELL, 14. Michaela ROBERTSON, 15. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 17. Claudia CICCO, 18. Te Reremoana WALKER, 19. Charlotte LANCASTER, 20. Milly CLEGG, 21. Michaela FOSTER, 22. Georgia CANDY (gk).

In: 14. Michaela ROBERTSON (return from injury).

Out: Nil

Unavailable: 1. Lily ALFELD (gk) (injured), 6. Isabel GOMEZ (injured), 8. Grace WISNEWSKI (injured), 16. Emma ROLSTON (injured).

Squad analysis: There’s just one change to the ‘Nix squad for Round 2, and that’s Michaela Robertson who is back in the selection frame after missing Round 1 through concussion. The ‘Nix will look to sure up defensively against Western United after shipping four goals to Melbourne City – but that task will remain a difficult one with captain and No.1 keeper Lily Alfeld still sidelined after a minor knee operation in pre-season.

Fantasy tip: Paige Satchell to open her Phoenix account after showing encouraging signs in glimpses throughout her club debut in Round 1. The New Zealand international has pace to burn and will look to trouble the Western defence. 

Western United squad: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (gk), 2. Stacey PAPADOPOULOS, 4. Jaclyn SAWICKI (c), 6. Chloe LOGARZO, 7. Francesca IERMANO, 8. Jessica McDONALD, 9. Hannah KEANE, 10. Kahli JOHNSON, 11. Emma ROBERS, 14. Natasha DAKIC, 15. Adriana TARANTO, 16. Melissa TARANTO, 18. Aleksandra SINCLAIR, 19. Tyla Jay VLAJNIC, 20. Sydney CUMMINGS, 21. Hillary BEALL (gk), 22. Alana CERNE, 24. Julia SARDO 

Ins: 14. Natasha DAKIC (promoted), 19. Tyla Jay VLAJNIC 

Unavailable: 3. Silver Bell MORRIS (illness), 12. Harriet WITHERS (injured) 

*two to be omitted

Squad analysis: Tyla-Jay Vlajnic and Natasha Dakic are called into the Western squad to solidify a defence which has already shut-out the reigning champions Melbourne Victory. Head coach Mark Torcaso has all but two of his players available for Round 2, with Silver Bell Morris out through illness and Harriet Withers remaining sidelined through injury.

Fantasy tip: Jessica McDonald to find the back of the net in back-to-back games. The United States international and World Cup winner scored on debut in Round 1 and after watching City attackers Rhianna Pollicina and Maria Jose Rojas pick Wellington apart on the opening weekend will feel confident of doing the same at Sky Stadium on Saturday.

Gameday.  COYN!

Is it kids go free today or was that just a promotion for the first game?

Wow shocking from Taylor  again.

I don’t know what it is, but looks like our players are stuck in mud.

Poor goal to concede…

Bahh, poor goal to concede. Turnover in their penalty area and they go straight down the other end and after a few bobbles in and blocks in our area it comes back in from the right for a well taken finish.

Western look clinical and we look a little gun-shy.

Will take that. 
Scrappy as all hell, but will take it.

Really impressed by Foster's set piece delivery from her corners - a threat both so far this week and last.

Much better.

Mickey Robertson, jeez, got some pace about her! 😳

Get in!!

The WU keeper's kit looks very similar to our away kit on the TV

Wibblebutt

The WU keeper's kit looks very similar to our away kit on the TV

 Q: Why are we playing in our "away" kit ? 

Wibblebutt

The WU keeper's kit looks very similar to our away kit on the TV

Don't get why we're not playing in our home strip to be honest...

No idea. It never makes sense to me, there's no clash with yellow and black.

Again, a decent first half. Albeit a slow start.

Taylor again, not great for that first goal. For me it's her decision making that needs to improve for this level. Dives in when shouldn't and what annoys me is that she plays back to the keeper when no one is pressuring her and their striker is sitting on Barry who then runs at the keeper. Hopefully this will all come with age and more experience as she seems to be a very mature, level headed lady. 

Huge positive is Robertson! New to womens football so didn't know her story but seems like her numbers in the domestic league were off the charts. What a little livewire, her diagonal through balls have been a real asset amongst others. 

Not a bad half at all. Looking threatening with through balls and from set pieces. Keep utilising those options and we'll net some more second half. 

Defending disappointing, not good enough from Kate Taylor on their goal. 

Not good enough from Kate Taylor not only on the goal but she is lucky they didn't score from some of her other mistakes. Pretty disappointing from last years player of the year. Need to make more of the chances created. That sounds familiar

Looking a bit tired here, as WU bring in reinforcements.

Oh dear, that all came from a shocking giveaway before the corner.

Bloody hell what's up with Taylor she has been mostly shocking this season. 

Comically bad.

We've run out of puff here. 
Poor giveaways and can't maintain possession for more than 3-4 passes.

Western gone up a gear and using their subs to good effect.

And just as I say that it's another blobby, scrappy tap in from a WU corner. Just get the thing out of there ladies! 😬

Bri Edwards is just not up to it at this level for coming for crosses, corners, etc. Causes the defence massive issues. Need Alfeld back ASAP. 

Corners right on the keeper have been chaos, such a good strategy.

lthomas20

Bri Edwards is just not up to it at this level for coming for crosses, corners, etc. Causes the defence massive issues. Need Alfeld back ASAP. 

Has now conceded 4 goals in all the games she played.

It’s not just on Edwards. The defence has been shocking.

Yeesh, Chloe Knott has just had her nose splattered across her face on that challenge 😳

nufc_nz

It’s not just on Edwards. The defence has been shocking.

That is a carryover from last season. I feel like Taylor and Barry have been overrated by some people (I actually liked when we played Mona Walker sometimes last season). 

Ik we're not in this league to sign a whole bunch of flashy established players, but a really decent American CB willing to play at this level (like other clubs tend to sign) would have gone a long way to easing these woes and also providing an example for Taylor & Barry to learn from. 

We need a new coaching team. Last season was awful and no better this season.

On last years performances no way can you say Taylor was over rated. Many better judges than me rated her highly sadly she has started this season badly and is making some very basic errors. No way can Domey and Welnix bitch about numbers turning up if thats what's being dished up.

Robinson as a newbie impressed and to me Paige Satchell was our player of the match. She's got speed and skill. a bit unlucky but never gives up. Foster's corners were great - except that very last one. I wish the guys would send them over like that.

Grrrr. double post.