WPW R6 v Melbourne City | Sun 9th Jan| 6:05pm | SS7

Somehow the women's team is covid free, though I see Vosper is out through injury. 

hopefully the women can show the same grit and fight as the men did and maybe pull a draw out of the bag.

solid start so far, 25 mins gone and holding their own.

spoke too soon, poor defensive clearance leads to a good shot from City, Alfield should have done better.

oh dear, another poor defensive error leads to a City shot lobbing the keeper.
2-0
we've looked good on attack, creating some decent enough chances, much like the men we are lacking that striking ability and getting caught defensively.

Lol at the commentators trying to be nice to the Nix, we totally deserve to be 2-0 down. Frankly we're woeful.

and thats 3 to city, more poor defence this time at a corner. Frustrating but not unexpected.

Lack quality and dear i say it, leadership in all parts of the field

Could do without the Kelli Brown fowls also, it is really necessary? Passing not good either, felt we started off playing reasonably good 

yeah, which is understandable, can only hope that they learn and grow and develop in the game so they are ready to perform next season.

You literally can see them getting better every  week. I think they played impressive.
First goal fair enough, good strike. Next two avoidable.
We created a few chances, but you can see that they have not much experience to finish.

Will they really keep this same squad next season? I seriously hope not, at least some surely will be dropped for more mature experience players next season? Surely… we aren’t really a !National team until we remove the  Aussies in the squad also 

What a stupid comment?
Firstly they aren’t a national team they are a club team (with less overseas players than the mens team)
They were always going to struggle on the score board playing the top teams initially but showing some great improvement today 

theprof

and thats 3 to city, more poor defence this time at a corner. Frustrating but not unexpected.

What negative tripe 
You sound like a bully just waiting for a chance to have a crack?
A young team playing every game away from home all against the top half of the league first up.
Have a look at yourself 

Kenyabold

theprof

and thats 3 to city, more poor defence this time at a corner. Frustrating but not unexpected.

What negative tripe 
You sound like a bully just waiting for a chance to have a crack?
A young team playing every game away from home all against the top half of the league first up.
Have a look at yourself 

His comment was pretty fair and theprof ain’t a bully

Look everyone knows expectations were low this season. And yes it’s not the Ferns it’s a club team, but you would hope for 2022/23 Lewis has time to approach some experienced Ferns and sign 2-3.

Not only does the Nix Women team then become stronger, but the young girls learn so much off the older heads. They don’t have that at the moment.

But the the reality is that some of the young players this season who have found the step up a struggle, may never get a prog gig again. That’s the brutality of pro sport.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/127461288/wellington-phoenix-gift-goal-to-melbourne-citys-kiwi-striker-hannah-wilkinson

Kenyabold

theprof

and thats 3 to city, more poor defence this time at a corner. Frustrating but not unexpected.

What negative tripe 
You sound like a bully just waiting for a chance to have a crack?
A young team playing every game away from home all against the top half of the league first up.
Have a look at yourself 

nice bait

coochiee

Kenyabold

theprof

and thats 3 to city, more poor defence this time at a corner. Frustrating but not unexpected.

What negative tripe 
You sound like a bully just waiting for a chance to have a crack?
A young team playing every game away from home all against the top half of the league first up.
Have a look at yourself 

His comment was pretty fair and theprof ain’t a bully

Look everyone knows expectations were low this season. And yes it’s not the Ferns it’s a club team, but you would hope for 2022/23 Lewis has time to approach some experienced Ferns and sign 2-3.

Not only does the Nix Women team then become stronger, but the young girls learn so much off the older heads. They don’t have that at the moment.

But the the reality is that some of the young players this season who have found the step up a struggle, may never get a prog gig again. That’s the brutality of pro sport.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/127461288/wellington-phoenix-gift-goal-to-melbourne-citys-kiwi-striker-hannah-wilkinson

thanks for the support - first time I've had the "bully" tag thrown at me.

and I totally agree, this season was always going to be a test for some of the team to see if they could make the step up form wherever they were playing. Player selection was always going to be hard given limited time we had to find players and the rules regarding squad make up. Max 11 Kiwis and at least 7 Aussies.

you can have low expectations due to the situation AND be underwhelmed by the performance and want more. 
There was some better stuff in that game - but the team needs a Wilkinson like player if they are going to stick it in the net consistently.
Also Alfeld needs to come for those loopy corners  - as she is going to be in pretty ineffectual sitting on her line

agree, I expect nothing as far as performances are concerned - we all knew this season was going to be tough. But you can hope and want the players to play well. I like Alfield as a player but I think there are some moments where she needs to position herself better, she doesnt have the commanding height that a lot of keepers do so needs to rely more on her speed and agility. Sitting on her line doesnt help the defenders at all. I'm sure the coaches are working on all kinds of things across the team and they will get better - which is all we can ask for at this point.

My 2c worth.
This squad was always going to be out of there depth with there lack of experience and large number of very young players. I would have much preferred to see a few more experienced players named in the squad to help the younger ones adjust to this new level of football.  But these are the decision made by NZF and The Nix so we have to live with it. And these are the kind of scoreline's that would have been expected with such a squad especially against the likes of Sydney and Melbourne. So no surprises really. 
The fact that they are improving with each game is hugely encouraging. Conceding soft goals is frustrating but is going to be part of the leaning process. I just hope we can actually start to score a few goals and even snag a win at some stage. Which could come in the second half of the season.
For next year, I hope we see a different squad with a lot more experience added to those from this year that show enough at this level to warrant inclusion.
Next year will be world cup year so we need to be giving game time to those that need it in the lead up to the tournament.
There are alot of NZ players that circumstances have lead to them right now sitting around that could have been getting game time. Rosie White, Daisy Cleverley, Jacqui Hand. (even CJ Bott and Katie Bowen are currently with-out clubs). 
I got the impression some NZ older players weren't keen on playing in this league for what ever reason. But just look at how well Hannah Wilkinson is doing. What a massive confidence boost to be scoring goals and playing regular football. Much better than sitting on the bench overseas somewhere foriegn.

There were some experienced players based in NZ, who Lewis definitely wanted to pick, but who made themselves unavailable. I think because they have stable employment in NZ, so throwing that away for a part time 4-5 mth gig based in Aus, on not great wages was unattractive.

From memory Anna Green was one. But I think there was 1-2 others?? Longo probably.

It was a rushed ALW entry. Remember they only got a team sponsor days before Game 1. But if 6-8 of the 11-14 young Kiwi players (2-3 of the 'Aussies' are dual citizens??), become long term good pros then it's a successful Season 1 as such.

Team/club will be a lot better prepared 2022/23. 

coochiee

There were some experienced players based in NZ, who Lewis definitely wanted to pick, but who made themselves unavailable. I think because they have stable employment in NZ, so throwing that away for a part time 4-5 mth gig based in Aus, on not great wages was unattractive.

From memory Anna Green was one. But I think there was 1-2 others?? Longo probably.

It was a rushed ALW entry. Remember they only got a team sponsor days before Game 1. But if 6-8 of the 11-14 young Kiwi players (2-3 of the 'Aussies' are dual citizens??), become long term good pros then it's a successful Season 1 as such.

Team/club will be a lot better prepared 2022/23. 

made themselves unavailable is the wrong phrase -  it makes it sound like they were available prior. 
For as long as this has been brewing over the years - it was always obvious that pulling people away from solid employment for a stint was going to be a tough prospect. The club chat seems to indicate they could possibly base themselves in Wgtn in the future - if that is the case then there will be more uptake I assume on this front.
The A-League is of a noticeably lower standard that northern hem leagues - so it is going to be a second choice for those pursuing pro footy - including when they don't even have a current contract.

I thought the team played better football going forward than they have done, creating several chances that really should have brought a goal or two. Yes conceded goals they shouldn't have. Mackenzie Barry will never make that mistake again, though its hard to judge how hard to head a ball back to your keeper when the ball already has quite a bit of momentum.   

Barry seems like she has her head screwed on well, for one so young (20) she seems pretty ready to be honest about where the team is at and how they can improve.