WPM R3 vs Newcastle Jets | Sat 22nd Oct | 7:00pm | SS7

It's really feeling like we are doing structure at the expense of everything else.

When we make opportunities we stop and do se.more passing.  None of our players seem to be confident enough to beat defenders the way Cacace used to.

Might just be we are struggling and so it looks worse than it is to me but we don't seem to have too much of a spark to have a go.

Barbarouses shot that went straight to the goalie was at least a shot.

I dunno, I'm far from an expert so probably just talking out of my ass.

Lots of work to do still,however it's too early to judge on what the core starting squad will look like.Midfield combo in second half likes good.Jets parked the bus.The European imports dont look match fit yet.
Fortunately we have backups with 3-4 key players yet to come in,to stamp their mark-or not.
I don't think weve had the luxury of having these options and possible combinations for a long time.
It may be Christmas before we see a settled team/preferred squad.

Was hoping and expecting our start would be better this season seems i had some mis guided optimism. Really not enjoying our leaking of  goals and dont even get me started on what seems to be a massive over use of hoofball football.
Also dont expect to see Dome or any one from the Phoenix moaning about attendances until they can deliver a winning team that is able be consistent (and not consistently bad) in putting out quality performances i really dont see attendance figures improving dramatically.

The most disappointing thing in our games so far is the amount of times we have passed backwards when there were options forward.

That is something that bugs me too. It bugs me in general but with the Nix, especially yesterday, when they do all that passing backwards and across (when there are obvious opportunities to play a forward ball)it shows a lack of intent in my view. You have to have an attacking mindset at all times if you are expecting to take advantage of offensive opportunities. Its a state of mind. There was a situation yesterday where the play was on one side of the field and there was a bit of interplay and pressure being applied by The Jets and (whoever it was) played a ball from the back and straight back into the congested midfield when the obvious ball was a square one to the very free man on the opposite side of the field. A schoolboy error in my opinion.

NZPhoenixFan

The most disappointing thing in our games so far is the amount of times we have passed backwards when there were options forward.

Yes, we are recycling at all costs. We wouldn't dare try to break play, or benefit fom broken play.

And this defending from our penalty spot thing is just inviting trouble. We are soooo poor without the ball. Laws is still a big problem for us.

NZPhoenixFan

The most disappointing thing in our games so far is the amount of times we have passed backwards when there were options forward.

this, but this only pips the fact that we often have the ball in good spots and noone is moving into space, statues in front of the ball, so the only option is a CB or Keeper!

reg22

Yes, we are recycling at all costs. We wouldn't dare try to break play, or benefit fom broken play.

And this defending from our penalty spot thing is just inviting trouble. We are soooo poor without the ball. Laws is still a big problem for us.

Never been sold 100% on Laws, although he seems a serviceable A-League player. Still think Surman needs to be in there at the back to be honest. I'm surprised that he hasn't been involved as yet.

I really hope Sasse is quality or we are in big trouble. And so far there is no evidence to say that he is. 

siac

I really hope Sasse is quality or we are in big trouble. And so far there is no evidence to say that he is. 

While I agree that I'm not optimistic about Sasse, there was an interview with one of the players after Sasse's card saying he's a huge loss because he's a player of the quality we haven't seen since Davilla. So, there is some evidence to say he's quality.

Phoenix B 3, Phoenix A 1. Boy it makes you wonder about those transfers.

And I remember folks questioning why Mcgarry, Piscopo & Sotiro would move to the Jets, like it was obviously some sort of backwards move for each of them.

Still early days re standing of each club.

coochiee

And I remember folks questioning why Mcgarry, Piscopo & Sotiro would move to the Jets, like it was obviously some sort of backwards move for each of them.

Still early days re standing of each club.

McGarry clearly didn't give 100% for us considering that's what he's got in his locker. How many shots did he even try to take on from those positions, or take on that many players for us? Really disappointing. 

lthomas20

coochiee

And I remember folks questioning why Mcgarry, Piscopo & Sotiro would move to the Jets, like it was obviously some sort of backwards move for each of them.

Still early days re standing of each club.

McGarry clearly didn't give 100% for us considering that's what he's got in his locker. How many shots did he even try to take on from those positions, or take on that many players for us? Really disappointing. 

Harsh on McGarry. He often looked dangerous on attack and hit some decent long range shots (even if none of them found the net that I can remember). His biggest issues was his defensive work if anything. I feel if he got more starts/minutes he might of shown similar for us, but Ufuk wasn't much of a fan it seems.

siac

lthomas20

coochiee

And I remember folks questioning why Mcgarry, Piscopo & Sotiro would move to the Jets, like it was obviously some sort of backwards move for each of them.

Still early days re standing of each club.

McGarry clearly didn't give 100% for us considering that's what he's got in his locker. How many shots did he even try to take on from those positions, or take on that many players for us? Really disappointing. 

Harsh on McGarry. He often looked dangerous on attack and hit some decent long range shots (even if none of them found the net that I can remember). His biggest issues was his defensive work if anything. I feel if he got more starts/minutes he might of shown similar for us, but Ufuk wasn't much of a fan it seems.

I think we knew he had that in his locker (maybe not on the right peg though) but we didn't even remotely test him defensively on saturday which is frustrating

coochiee

And I remember folks questioning why Mcgarry, Piscopo & Sotiro would move to the Jets, like it was obviously some sort of backwards move for each of them.

Still early days re standing of each club.

It definitely should (have) be(en)! 
They were poor, we were just much worse.

Uffie has had a slow start to the season bedding until a lot of new players and trying to find our playing style. We’re not zipping the ball around with one touch. Though that was a Lewis/Pennington or Rufer/Lewis midfield. Urgarkovic/Lewis or Urgarkovic/Pennington hasn’t been as good as that yet. 

Sutton has been off form. Payne has also had muttering about his form. We don’t have settled players in other positions with Kosta/Ball etc (and you feel that Sasse may need 3-5 games to settle, worst case scenario). Part of that is because we have competition, which should be good, but we’re still some distance away from settled combinations and the slick way we have moved the ball at times in recent times. 

It’s also because we don’t have a Taylor/Hemed/Davila type signing who is absolutely locked in and then we can arrange players around them. Lots of places up for grabs.

Our performances and results against the Jets over the last two seasons are frustrating to me.

The other frustrating thing, unless we get some results from our next couple of games is we then lose momentum with the World Cup break, unless we can get some useful friendlies to improve our preparation. 

We need a win or two to keep spirits and expectations up going into the WC break. 

We always lose momentum when we have breaks anyway. The two sessions when we had the best team in the comp fizzled out because of the Asian cup break in 2015 and covid in 2020.

It's been pathetic defending so far. What's happened to Sail and Payne. they both seem a shadow of the players they were. No one in defence is taking responsibility, everyone just seems to think someone else will make the block and only puts in a half hearted attempt or challenge. Wooton has been left wanting. Looks like he is still on holiday. Hoofing the ball long more often than not. He certainly isn't showing any leadership. 
Not looking like we are going to get a clean sheet anytime soon. Might as well have a shake up. Give Paulsen, Elliot and Surman a run. Those other guys need a wake up call and a kick up the arse, aka Lewis at half time against the Jets. 
We are totally lacking in desire and intensity.

Ranix

It's been pathetic defending so far. What's happened to Sail and Payne. they both seem a shadow of the players they were. No one in defence is taking responsibility, everyone just seems to think someone else will make the block and only puts in a half hearted attempt or challenge. Wooton has been left wanting. Looks like he is still on holiday. Hoofing the ball long more often than not. He certainly isn't showing any leadership. 
Not looking like we are going to get a clean sheet anytime soon. Might as well have a shake up. Give Paulsen, Elliot and Surman a run. Those other guys need a wake up call and a kick up the arse, aka Lewis at half time against the Jets. 
We are totally lacking in desire and intensity.

I don't see how we can land too much blame on the back line when no one is really clicking. I feel like the defending will improve as we bed in the combinations since defending is really on the whole team and not just the back four. 
To my eye at least we have plenty of quality and very strong depth but we just need more time. I think we were all a bit too hopeful that all the changes made in the off season wouldn't affect the overall cohesion of the team and we can see now it clearly has.
I would pick our next two home games we will see some serious improvement but unfortunately I think we will experience some serious pain on this coming Sunday night. At least we get to see some of Sasse.

Does Payne go back to CB. Seems a better fit there IMO. Lack the attacking game to play RB the way we want, which is surprising given he started his career as a striker.

MetalLegNZ

Does Payne go back to CB. Seems a better fit there IMO. Lack the attacking game to play RB the way we want, which is surprising given he started his career as a striker.

If Effie goes against what he has said publically and puts Payne back to CB, who then will play RB? Elliot? He'd do a job but Im not sure it'd be better than Payne.

MetalLegNZ

Does Payne go back to CB. Seems a better fit there IMO. Lack the attacking game to play RB the way we want, which is surprising given he started his career as a striker.

I was thinking we could even move him to midfield to partner Ugarkovic, and push Lewis up. We know the midfield hasn't been protecting the defence enough, and Payne can do that. 

lthomas20

MetalLegNZ

Does Payne go back to CB. Seems a better fit there IMO. Lack the attacking game to play RB the way we want, which is surprising given he started his career as a striker.

I was thinking we could even move him to midfield to partner Ugarkovic, and push Lewis up. We know the midfield hasn't been protecting the defence enough, and Payne can do that. 

no thanks, I dont think we've reached that kind of desperation yet - to be putting players in unfamiliar positions. Uffie has a plan and I'd expect him to demand more from Ugarkovic and Lewis before he starts chopping and changing things

Remembering Rufer is due back after the break too.

I wonder if some of our players are suffering from an AW's hang over from the off season. Seems to have gone there heads a bit. Someone please tell them you don't win football matches on reputation, it takes hard graft.
Stark contrast to some of the Aussie players trying to play themselves into WC contention, guys like Risdon are going gangbusters and making a bit difference for there teams. Our guys aren't anywhere near that level of competitiveness. I know its about building momentum over the length of the season. But another slow start and having to play catch up again is doing my head in.

Ranix

It's been pathetic defending so far. What's happened to Sail and Payne. they both seem a shadow of the players they were. No one in defence is taking responsibility, everyone just seems to think someone else will make the block and only puts in a half hearted attempt or challenge. Wooton has been left wanting. Looks like he is still on holiday. Hoofing the ball long more often than not. He certainly isn't showing any leadership. 
Not looking like we are going to get a clean sheet anytime soon. Might as well have a shake up. Give Paulsen, Elliot and Surman a run. Those other guys need a wake up call and a kick up the arse, aka Lewis at half time against the Jets. 
We are totally lacking in desire and intensity.

In Sail's case I really am wondering if we are having a post Paul Gothard as GK coach period.  IMHO Kurto has not been the GK he was for us at either Western or McArthur.  Sail is also now not at his best.  Is removing Gothard as coach for both a coincidence?  I am starting to believe it is a possibility