WPW R4 vs Canberra United | Sat 10th December | 5:00pm | SS1

First game of a Phoenix 'double header' on Sky Sport on Saturday night.

A lot riding on this game for me. A lot more than last week.
If we want to do better than finish last on the table then these the the kind of teams we need to be getting points from.
Complicated by the fact, next time we play Canberra, we won't have any Ferns players due to the USA game on at the same time.
We have had 3 games now. Time for the coaches to get things clicking along.

Hopefully we'll have Lily back, she obviously won't fix all of our other problems but it'll be a welcome return.

jeebus, our defence is shaky! not clearing the line quick enough resulting in the goal and a couple of chances.

Really looking like we could concede a lot tonight

Canberra just running through us.
Heyman is showing how defending from the front is so effecting against a defence that's trying to play the ball out of the back.

This is tough. We’ve gotta find confidence from somewhere to actually defend and play. 

Midfield woeful again

I so want this team to do well, but some things needs to improve - defensive organisation and our control in the middle of the park.
We have the pace but lack the control with Knott, Whinham and Hassett in the centre of the park.

We also have to stop trying to play it out from the back ALL the time, its ok as a plan A, but you have to go long sometimes. Otherwise it becomes predictable.

We have no presence in midfield, whinham for all turns and ribbons is simply not strong enough!

take note nix defence, that's desperation and skill to stop a goal.

3-0, nix havent learned a thing about defending or keeping the ball in the last month

We were looking so good but couldn't finish, then hand away a dumb as goal.

and still we persist with these little goal kicks to the CB, who hoof it to the winger, who then loses it.

The coaching staff have to go. Start again, surely. This is just pathetic.

not changing the tactic/plan has to be on the coaching team, unless the players just arent doing what's been asked of them???

When is cap Alfeld back?

theprof

not changing the tactic/plan has to be on the coaching team, unless the players just arent doing what's been asked of them???

Also could be deficiency in the squad where other tactics just aren't working in training?

Bananas

theprof

not changing the tactic/plan has to be on the coaching team, unless the players just arent doing what's been asked of them???

Also could be deficiency in the squad where other tactics just aren't working in training?

true, but that's still on the coach to make things work or change things to suit the players you have.
We have speed out wide, but that cant be utilised when you play 3 quick midfielders centrally. 4-3-3 doesnt work, the front 3 never see the ball or if they do it's due to them coming deep to find it. This s down to the mid three losng posession so often, which in turn puts out defence under pressure.

Agree but VDM and Foster are quite lumbering and clunky on the left side and they targeted this.
Taylor will bring back some athleticism hopefully when fit

I thought Barry and Foster were our best today. We badly need Taylor and Alfeld back. Pritchard put herself about and was unlucky to see the defender race back to clear her shot.

I doubt they are being askes to give the ball to the opposition all the time. 

theprof

not changing the tactic/plan has to be on the coaching team, unless the players just arent doing what's been asked of them???

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

I thought Barry and Foster were our best today. We badly need Taylor and Alfeld back. Pritchard put herself about and was unlucky to see the defender race back to clear her shot.

Fosters natural position is not left back.
Was on the wrong side of her marker leading to 2nd goal and not fast enough getting back. Set piece delivery and some good link play handy

Fenix

I doubt they are being askes to give the ball to the opposition all the time. 

theprof

not changing the tactic/plan has to be on the coaching team, unless the players just arent doing what's been asked of them???

giving the ball away in the middle isnt due to tactics sure, but the tactic is something they are clearly struggling with.

According to Rory Falloon on the kiwi football show there are deficiencies in the squad and he thinks he has a couple of players in the Phoenix academy who could improve things. I believe they've need a decent cdm who can pass and drop between the centre backs to help them play out. Hasett runs with ball too much as does Satchell and imo they've done nothing to improve the team. Can't keep blaming the defence because a team that can't pass and keep the ball will always be under pressure particularly in the second half when they run out of gas. The coach has to take some responsibility because she signed the new players together with resigning many of the previous lot who could only finish bottom last year.

Gaffa

According to Rory Falloon on the kiwi football show there are deficiencies in the squad and he thinks he has a couple of players in the Phoenix academy who could improve things. I believe they've need a decent cdm who can pass and drop between the centre backs to help them play out. Hasett runs with ball too much as does Satchell and imo they've done nothing to improve the team. Can't keep blaming the defence because a team that can't pass and keep the ball will always be under pressure particularly in the second half when they run out of gas. The coach has to take some responsibility because she signed the new players together with resigning many of the previous lot who could only finish bottom last year.

 Agree, there is a gap in the middle of the park defensively, there are big decision making issues with choosing the pass/direction to play going forward. We need a midfield anchor that can look up. A quality DM or box to box midfielder would solve a lot of the teams issues. So yep this vastly more experienced person seems to be spot on. 
The CB's also need to learn to play the ball not the player on defence though. Multiple times they have gone in to contact with the player, bounced them off and the player has just skipped past. To be fair if the ball didn't get there due to having some midfield cover in the defensive third, we wouldn't have that issue nearly as much.
Almost there, just missing a quality player centrally.

I've already mentioned it. But why did the coaching staff not talk to Katie Bowen when she was looking for an A league club. She would have covered those positions mentioned above, CB and DM, where this team is currently lacking. She can pass under pressure also.
The coaching team will now be under huge pressure, and I get the impression they are out of there depth. I fear this could be a season wasted for the Nix women's program unless they can somehow turn things around...
A full re-think is in need for next year, off season, recruitment, appointments etc. It appears they got a lot wrong this time round, and have been a bit of an FFDP closed book.
I still enjoy watching this team. But at least last year we could see the development happening week on week. No so far this year. 4 loses in a row now. Is it time for a shake up.
To me it looks like alot of players are being played in un-natural positions. There is no lack of effort and determination from the players but there is not much structure or cohesion of note in the team.
For me players that have had lots of opportunities but haven't delivered as well as expected. Pritchard, Whinham, Knott, Edwards. Could all do with a rest to reflect.      
I'd like to see these girls get a go. Walker, Gomez, Lancaster and Candy.
Play Hasett in the AM role (give Whinham a rest). At DM play Gomez and Walker or Wisnewski if fit all more natural DM's. Push Foster forward, she is about the only one getting shots on goal and she is playing LB. I'd like to see Robertson get a good run also. 
The rate we are going some of these girls are actually playing themselves out of Football Ferns contention. That's not how it is supposed to be going.

Ranix

I've already mentioned it. But why did the coaching staff not talk to Katie Bowen when she was looking for an A league club. She would have covered those positions mentioned above, CB and DM, where this team is currently lacking. She can pass under pressure also.
The coaching team will now be under huge pressure, and I get the impression they are out of there depth. I fear this could be a season wasted for the Nix women's program unless they can somehow turn things around...
A full re-think is in need for next year, off season, recruitment, appointments etc. It appears they got a lot wrong this time round, and have been a bit of an FFDP closed book.
I still enjoy watching this team. But at least last year we could see the development happening week on week. No so far this year. 4 loses in a row now. Is it time for a shake up.
To me it looks like alot of players are being played in un-natural positions. There is no lack of effort and determination from the players but there is not much structure or cohesion of note in the team.
For me players that have had lots of opportunities but haven't delivered as well as expected. Pritchard, Whinham, Knott, Edwards. Could all do with a rest to reflect.      
I'd like to see these girls get a go. Walker, Gomez, Lancaster and Candy.
Play Hasett in the AM role (give Whinham a rest). At DM play Gomez and Walker or Wisnewski if fit all more natural DM's. Push Foster forward, she is about the only one getting shots on goal and she is playing LB. I'd like to see Robertson get a good run also. 
The rate we are going some of these girls are actually playing themselves out of Football Ferns contention. That's not how it is supposed to be going.

Dare I say it but could coaching be a factor?

They could start by picking a keeper thats over 5 ft tall, one that can kick the ball preferably. 

Fenix

They could start by picking a keeper thats over 5 ft tall, one that can kick the ball preferably. 

Do we have a tall keeper? 

nope, has been said before, there arent many (if any) tall female keepers in the league.

This is what happens when you appoint a coach with no track record of success

Average performances, playing people out of position, and no improvement shown over four weeks.

Will they have the guts to make a change though?

Reportsare

This is what happens when you appoint a coach with no track record of success

Average performances, playing people out of position, and no improvement shown over four weeks.

Will they have the guts to make a change though?

Put Greenie in charge ?. The wee Nix have now finished there season. He just got his new coaching licence, he'd be raring to go?
Worked well for Kisnorbo coaching the womens team at Mel City.

theprof

nope, has been said before, there arent many (if any) tall female keepers in the league.

I think you will find that Edwards is the shortest though.

Ranix

theprof

nope, has been said before, there arent many (if any) tall female keepers in the league.

I think you will find that Edwards is the shortest though.

probably correct, Alfield isnt exactly a giant though., nor is our third keeper

Alfied 1.75m/5' 7'' (27y)
Edwards 1.67m/5'5'' (19y)
Candy 1.74m/5'7'' (21y)

Western United's keeper, american H Bewall is 1.8m/5'10''
Victory's keeper C Dumont is 1.85m/6'+ a little bit
Adelaide A Grove is 1.78/5'10''
Sydney J mathyssen-Whymann is 1.67m/5'5''

so we are clearly at the shorter end of the scale.

women's EPL heights

Tallest | Player | Club | Height
| Karen Bardsley | Manchester City | 180 cm
| Ann-Ketrin Berger | Chelsea | 180 cm
| Emily Ramsey | Birmingham City | 180 cm
| Mackenzie Arnold | Brighton and Hove Albion | 179 cm
| Zećira Mušović | Chelsea | 178 cm
| Manuela Zinsberger | Arsenal | 177 cm
Smallest |  |  | 
| Becky Spencer | Tottenham | 167 cm
| Sophie Baggaley | Manchester United | 167 cm
| Grace Moloney | Reading | 170 cm
| Mary Earps | Manchester United | 173 cm
| Hannah Hampton | Aston Villa | 173 cm