WPW R8 vs Melbourne City | Sat 28th Dec | 7:00pm | Sky Sports 4

So, can we keep it up?

It's gonna be the toughest test yet I would think.

If we don't manage any points from it, I just hope we can stop Speckmaier scoring against us

Melbourne City squad: 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 7. Kathryn HARVEY, 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 9. Holly McNAMARA, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 11. Emilia MURRAY, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 14. Laura HUGHES, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 19. Lourdes BOSCH, 22. Bryleeh HENRY, 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 24. Malena MIERES (GK), 27. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 11. Emilia MURRAY, 12. Shelby McMAHON (both promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 20. Caitlin KARIC (hamstring)

Wellington Phoenix squad: 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 8. Amelia ABBOTT, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 14. Mebae TANAKA, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 19. Liv INGHAM, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk)

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 8. Amelia ABBOTT (new signing), 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk) (returning from injury)

Outs: 12. Ella MCMILLAN (omitted), 13. Brooke NEARY (gk) (omitted)

Unavailable: 18. Ella MCCANN (injured), 23. Rebecca LAKE (injured)

Good to see Danieli is back from injury - hopefully we don't need to use her, but feels a bit better having our number 2 on the bench rather than our number 3

Gonna be a toughie but ideal time to play this kind of game imo - we're in form and confident, let's have a go at the top team and see if we can bag an unexpected result. Think Melbourne City's attack may be a bit sharp for us but let's wait and see, been impressed with our defensive record of late so we certainly have a chance even though we're clear underdogs.

City are the best team in the comp right now. They have 20 goals compared to our 8. So this game will be a good measure of where we are at.
Expecting a bit of a defensive line up. Prob Jaber Barry and Kelly as CBs with McCutcheon and Brazendale in front of them. I don't mind this away from home in Victoria. Stay in the game as long as possible then bring on fresh attacking legs in second half.
Bit of a free hit. No one will be expecting us to get a result.

Come on Zoe, get another one!

Ranix

City are the best team in the comp right now. They have 20 goals compared to our 8. So this game will be a good measure of where we are at.
Expecting a bit of a defensive line up. Prob Jaber Barry and Kelly as CBs with McCutcheon and Brazendale in front of them. I don't mind this away from home in Victoria. Stay in the game as long as possible then bring on fresh attacking legs in second half.
Bit of a free hit. No one will be expecting us to get a result.

we've definitely been a bit more pragmatic preparing to play more defensively in certain matches.

A quick break in the men's action to give you your women's starting XI for tonight 👊

🟡 Whinam, Kelly and Brazendale make their return to the playing XI
🟡 Danieli returns to the bench after four weeks due to injury#COYN! pic.twitter.com/GLSkDRwd7E

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) December 28, 2024

Team News is in 

Speckmaier on the bench for City

Goal, apparently!
Total stuff up playing out again by the look of it  - the oppo keep giving us all our goals!

For someone who has missed most of the first half, how are things looking?

Unknwn Quantity

For someone who has missed most of the first half, how are things looking?

Interesting approach so far. Thought they might go fully defensive for 75 mins like they did vs Victory, but the Nix are being quite proactive.

Can someone teach whinham to shoot??

Elbo

Can someone teach whinham to shoot??

It's weird. She's so good in the middle of the park, but has no instinct in front of goal.

Agree - the part of the game she is lacking. Happy to see her get the start though - her workrate and linking play is much needed! Was a bit perplexed to see Fergusson retain her starting spot - I know she scored today but anyone would have got that goal. Feel like if she wasn’t an import she would have been benched by now? 

Also, I think Jaber needs to lead our backline, she has been best on park (or near enough) almost every game and exudes confidence. I don’t get that same feeling from Barry or Kielly (sp). I think you have one of these two and only both when playing with a back five.

Pretty competitive performance really. Away to the league leaders. A tad unlucky to concede two the way we did. Pushed for an equaliser. But not quite our day.

Elbo

Can someone teach whinham to shoot??

whinham has no shooting technique at all.  Pro player, has all day to practice.

Our problem is we can't score, we are competitive during the game, but our goals scored have largely been gifted to us.

Ferguson, I'm unsure how she gets a start. 

Mcmeekin has a stand out game last week,and one of our rare actual goals, and is benched .

Main works herself to death for the cause upfront last week - benched

Temples selections and subbing very strange??

One of our best performances for a long time. Really put the acid on Melb City. Their keeper did well to keep out Main's shot. My fav moment: the excellent Jaber getting booked for imitating Speckmaier's dive!

Unknwn Quantity

Also, I think Jaber needs to lead our backline, she has been best on park (or near enough) almost every game and exudes confidence. I don’t get that same feeling from Barry or Kielly (sp). I think you have one of these two and only both when playing with a back five.

Well,I agree that Jabers been an improving and solid player.  Very happy to have her with Barry,Kelly,Mcmeekin and Wall, I think this is as good a defensive squad as anyone in the league.

Fenix

Elbo

Can someone teach whinham to shoot??

whinham has no shooting technique at all.  Pro player, has all day to practice.

Our problem is we can't score, we are competitive during the game, but our goals scored have largely been gifted to us.

Ferguson, I'm unsure how she gets a start. 

Mcmeekin has a stand out game last week,and one of our rare actual goals, and is benched .

Main works herself to death for the cause upfront last week - benched

You can say they've been gifted to us but often they are the result of a successful high press - seem to have had a few goals this season off this, that's only part-gift and part reaping the rewards of hard work and deliberate tactics