WPW R7 vs Sydney FC | Sat 21st Dec | 4:00pm | Porirua Park

Nixmas in the (Porirua) Park!

Don't forget your cans/donations for the Food collection!

Looking forward to this after missing the last home game thanks to some minor engagement up in Auckland.

Newbie question, do we have any chants specifically for the WPW games? I wonder if Longo would see the funny side of "Who let the dogs out", but maybe that's one of those you had to be there things.

Sydney are defo beatable at the moment, but I still don't see where our goals are coming from.

Our defence is shaping up but yeh doesn't look like we have a consistent goal scorer in the team. No one that is going to make double figures for the season probably not even 5 goals. So will need to rely on the goals being spread around. 
You see some cracking long range goals in this league but we don't seem to have anyone with the confidence to give it a crack from distance. Although Lara Wall is capable. Surely Whinham is due a goal soon she has been getting lots of half chances and Ferguson needs to score if she wants to remain a starter. Main at least gets most of her shots on target. I'd like to see Tanaka back her self a bit more. Really missing Frasers audacity to shoot on sight. Keeps teams guessing and draws out defenders. 

Simon B

Looking forward to this after missing the last home game thanks to some minor engagement up in Auckland.

Newbie question, do we have any chants specifically for the WPW games? I wonder if Longo would see the funny side of "Who let the dogs out", but maybe that's one of those you had to be there things.

I was talking to some others about this last week, we actually don't have many player chants for the women, made harder with their higher turn over each season. I would like to have more chants for them than just our standard Wellington Phoenix team ones, but I fully admit I'm no good at coming up with any.

We do have one for Longo though, to the tune of Bingo.

RR

Nixmas in the (Porirua) Park!

Don't forget your cans/donations for the Food collection!

Did well with donations on Saturday, looking forward to doing it again at Porirua park 

Yakcall

RR

Nixmas in the (Porirua) Park!

Don't forget your cans/donations for the Food collection!

Did well with donations on Saturday, looking forward to doing it again at Porirua park 

Guess people who normally bought stuff at Railway New World pre-match opted for cash this time.

RR

Yakcall

RR

Nixmas in the (Porirua) Park!

Don't forget your cans/donations for the Food collection!

Did well with donations on Saturday, looking forward to doing it again at Porirua park 

Guess people who normally bought stuff at Railway New World pre-match opted for cash this time.

Yeah, I'd say it was a bit of that. Will have to remember next year to do a box at Feathers too

Yakcall

Simon B

Looking forward to this after missing the last home game thanks to some minor engagement up in Auckland.

Newbie question, do we have any chants specifically for the WPW games? I wonder if Longo would see the funny side of "Who let the dogs out", but maybe that's one of those you had to be there things.

I was talking to some others about this last week, we actually don't have many player chants for the women, made harder with their higher turn over each season. I would like to have more chants for them than just our standard Wellington Phoenix team ones, but I fully admit I'm no good at coming up with any.

We do have one for Longo though, to the tune of Bingo.

One of the wordsmiths, can we re-work Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen, for Mebae Tanaka?

From the preview:

Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 12. Ella MCMILLAN, 13. Brooke NEARY (gk),14. Mebae TANAKA, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 19. Liv INGHAM, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk).

Unavailable: 18. Ella MCCANN (injured), 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk) (injured), 23. Rebecca LAKE (injured).

Sydney FC squad (two to be omitted):  1. Brianna EDWARDS (gk), 2.  Margaux CHAUVET, 3. Faye BRYSON, 4. Tori TUMETH, 7. Millie FARROW, 9. Shea CONNORS, 12. Natalie TOBIN (c), 14. Abbey LEMON, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 18. Amber LUCHTMEIJER, 20. Princess IBINI, 21. Lucy JOHNSON, 22. Indiana DOS SANTOS, 23. Rubi SULLIVAN, 24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER, 26. Maddie CASPERS, 30. Tahlia FRANCO (gk).

Unavailable: 5. Kirsty FENTON (injured), 8. Hana LOWRY (injured), 19. Kyah SIMON (injured).


Also thanks to everyone who replied about chants, if nothing else I guess we can finish the game with a round of We Wish You a Merry Nixmas :)

With the form Sydney have been in, today's a good chance to get a point or 3 off them!

🔥🔥COYN🔥🔥

YOUR STARTING XI FOR TODAY#COYN! pic.twitter.com/W5aREKF8at

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) December 21, 2024

Today's Starting Lineup 

- Main, Tanaka and McMeeken all come into the starting 11 today

Attacking line up. Let's hope we attack 

McCutcheon is good. One of the best foreigners we've had.

A real absence of midfield control or possession so far. Getting Whinham out there might sort that out.

Pretty disjointed display so far. From both team really.
Did we make too many changes to our starting XI ?

We are doing okay,but unsurprisingly aren't creating anything. Mains doing well, but we don't have targets who can hold the ball up. 
Ferguson ain't the one we need (I hope she scores now I've said that!) No better than Pritchard. 
Tanakas promising but a little lightweight,  but she could  find us a goal. We are a bit lucky Sydney are not in front.

Is there a weather delay?

HattyCW

Is there a weather delay?

 Yes - 30 minutes due to a torrential downpour (it certainly ain't raining goals)

Judging from the bibs, Whinham might be replacing Tanaka when they resume.

Jale!!

Get in!! 1-0

McMeeken makes it two, Longo with the assist.

4 games unbeaten and (for the moment) 4th on table. Merry Nixmas everyone!

Hugely enjoyable game. Yes,lucky with the 1st goal, but we saw it out.
Whinham did well,the entire defence worked hard and covered very well. 
Pleased for Mcmeekin with the goal,she had won just about every defensive corner we faced. Main worked her butt off,had a good game. I like the squad, but concerned about goalscoring.

Good Stuff

HattyCW

McMeeken makes it two, Longo with the assist.

Love that bullet header! 

Brilliant game!  Come on men, make it a great weekend before Xmas.

While we were lucky they didn't score off Barry's errors in first half, deserved the win with our determination in second half. Impressed with Main, McMeeks (of course), Jaber and McCutcheon especially. 

Feel a bit sorry for Bri Edward . I don't think you could get a keener player,but she seems to spend her time mostly on the bench.

She looked slimmer and fitter to me today,and started the season as number 1 keeper for Sydney, but in games ive seen she looked to still be too reluctant to leave her line,albeit we all know she's an excellent shot stopper. I can't say today's Sydney keeper is any better,for sure. And some of the keepers I've seen in the other aleague matches have often been very poor,and certainly no better than Edwards

Great result again! How good is this run we are on at the moment!

We were a bit lucky in the first half to not be punished for multiple defensive lapses, but we sorted that in the 2nd which was good to see

Happy to see us taking some more speculative shots - Jale today, Longo against the Roar a few weeks back, it's good to just test the keeper as both Jale's today and Longo's the other week forced a poor error from the goalie.

Alyssa Whinham made a huge difference when she came on, she's great on the ball and is creatively also very good, I really hope she can add goals to her game as they as they're maybe the final piece of the puzzle to her game.

I haven't watched any of Sydney this season before today, but has Bri really been bad enough to be benched in favour of this other keeper Franco? She didn't look great today.

Also one last thing - is it just me or are there way more seagulls at Porirua Park this season? Today and the other week they seem constant but I don't remember them so much last season

Half a Pint

Great result again! How good is this run we are on at the moment!

We were a bit lucky in the first half to not be punished for multiple defensive lapses, but we sorted that in the 2nd which was good to see

Happy to see us taking some more speculative shots - Jale today, Longo against the Roar a few weeks back, it's good to just test the keeper as both Jale's today and Longo's the other week forced a poor error from the goalie.

Alyssa Whinham made a huge difference when she came on, she's great on the ball and is creatively also very good, I really hope she can add goals to her game as they as they're maybe the final piece of the puzzle to her game.

I haven't watched any of Sydney this season before today, but has Bri really been bad enough to be benched in favour of this other keeper Franco? She didn't look great today.

Also one last thing - is it just me or are there way more seagulls at Porirua Park this season? Today and the other week they seem constant but I don't remember them so much last season

 seagulls have worked out where chips are to be found 

Rain delay worked out well, got to see WU put 3 past Akl and only missed 3min of the 2nd half. As Fenix said, disappointed for Bri at SFC but can see the benefit Vilao brings to the team.

Another pretty solid defensive display. Bar a few uncharacteristic errors by Barry in the first half. I noted Vilao selected to kick long on occasions when under pressure rather than try the 50 50 pass. I don't mind that. Selecting when to play out.  Great to see Jale score. Hopefully she will gain confidence from that. Whinham with good impact in that second half. McCutcheon the best import this team has ever had. Next week will be tough. Hardest game of the season away to Mel City in there current form. Expect to see ,3 CBs. With Kelly coming in. Who has looked very good so far.
Merry Christmas