WPM R10 vs Melbourne City | Mon 2nd Jan | 3:00pm | RoF/SS1

Classic! We looked pretty decent in parts, but couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. 

City are #1 for a reason. How good was their fullback today?!

Kraev is so underrated. Reminds me somewhat of Steinmann. Classy workhorse who makes the right choices 99% of the time. 

Despite looking good, and perhaps deserving a point, did we really expect to beat City? As a fan base, let’s focus more on making sure we don’t drop points to mugs like Western U. 🙄
COYN.

Not good enough again.  2 Wins in 10 that's equal worst in the league. Time to wake up and start making some big calls. We are simply a club that hopes to finish 6th under a ridiculous format and a club that does that is bang average.

Someone tell me how Sasse plays 88mins? the guy is garbage. He done a couple of tricks two weeks ago and some fans think he's of value..but reality is his rubbish 98% of the time. Seen better players up at the local park sweating out the night before.

We had absolutely nothing on the bench. Kosta is becoming a Ronaldo situation you either start him or you let him go. Body language miles off.

Whats UFUKS excuse today? or is he still pushing  the "we are not far off" bs to media who want to be his friend. He's living the dream this guy.

Fans deserve better.

Nah that mindset sucks… we’re capable of being a top 4 side, but drop too many points 

Steph1000

Classic! We looked pretty decent in parts, but couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. 

City are #1 for a reason. How good was their fullback today?!

Kraev is so underrated. Reminds me somewhat of Steinmann. Classy workhorse who makes the right choices 99% of the time. 

Despite looking good, and perhaps deserving a point, did we really expect to beat City? As a fan base, let’s focus more on making sure we don’t drop points to mugs like Western U. 🙄
COYN.

The commentators on Sky were lauding Mel C (to such a level that I suspect they were directed to).

Mel C were nothing special, we played them at home and we should entering the match with a good level of optimism that we can walk away with the three points.

Both fullbacks were very good today. Zawada works hard, always shows for the ball, wins headers but today just couldn't nail them. Kosta unlucky to hit woodwork. What a soft pen. Totally looked for it. Why didn't ref review it?? Sasse needs to try and create, take control like Uli did. I was impressed with the football, but now Uffie might decide he needs a Waine replacement.

Damn.  I was driving home and thanks to kids stops didn't get there in time for the game.

Was driving up my street when Hauraki sport came in and said the Phoenix couldn't... Just managed to switch off the radio in time so I knew it was a draw or a loss.

Kept an eye on SkyGo waiting for a replay, watched the women's game which was on a terrestrial replay and after that, still no Nix replay.  Googled to see if I could find a replay elsewhere and accidentally saw the score :(

Watched the highlights on Melbournes website.

That keeper error not being put away stings a lot.  He did the hard work to be in the right place at the right time, just scuffed the finish.

Young ladies looking Nix hat - Go back after game bar. One got handed in after you left. 

Both? The left full back let the cross come over for the first goal, he has to stop that!! One of your main jobs as a defender block shots and stop crosses, more so crosses for a fullback. Coach should've had a right crack at half time! he may have who knows! Elliot on other side did better but needs consistent games, but is he a top 6 club fullback? probably not if were honest.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Both fullbacks were very good today. Zawada works hard, always shows for the ball, wins headers but today just couldn't nail them. Kosta unlucky to hit woodwork. What a soft pen. Totally looked for it. Why didn't ref review it?? Sasse needs to try and create, take control like Uli did. I was impressed with the football, but now Uffie might decide he needs a Waine replacement.

Apparently 7 pens in 8 games for Melbourne City. 
Tilio is not a good player and again he’s had a couple of decisive contributions against us. Could say Alex King allowed him, but that’d be churlish, although he’s peak A league ref imo. There’s contact, enough for VAR. 

Clearly no one mentioning Uffie’s suit jinx.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Both fullbacks were very good today. Zawada works hard, always shows for the ball, wins headers but today just couldn't nail them. Kosta unlucky to hit woodwork. What a soft pen. Totally looked for it. Why didn't ref review it?? Sasse needs to try and create, take control like Uli did. I was impressed with the football, but now Uffie might decide he needs a Waine replacement.

He has one already. He might decide to give him enough minutes to affect the game.

theprof

Bally swapping flanks with Sasse, maybe to give Sutts more help with Leckie and co on the left.

Not a lot Sutts could do to stop Leckie, given he was home watching it on TV at the time.

Does a bit of umph or intensity needed to be added to our set pieces?

As a fan I never feel like we're in an advantaged position when we go to take a free kick or a corner. Nor is there any real intense pressure on the opposition defence. We had nine corners today and at no point did I feel like the outcome was going to be any different than the inevitable doesn't connect with any of our players and the ball ends up heading back towards half way, which played out most of the time.

It doesn't feel like or at least appear as though there's a consistent aim or target we're working towards with our crosses from the corner. Just a wild hoof it and hope strategy. 

Obviously we had plenty of other what could have been moments purely from open play today but set pieces is a situation that if we put some focus on we could be getting more goals to keep us in the fight when we next find ourselves in these kind of dropping an early lead situations. 

Rock Hopper

Does a bit of umph or intensity needed to be added to our set pieces?

As a fan I never feel like we're in an advantaged position when we go to take a free kick or a corner. Nor is there any real intense pressure on the opposition defence. We had nine corners today and at no point did I feel like the outcome was going to be any different than the inevitable doesn't connect with any of our players and the ball ends up heading back towards half way, which played out most of the time.

It doesn't feel like or at least appear as though there's a consistent aim or target we're working towards with our crosses from the corner. Just a wild hoof it and hope strategy. 

Obviously we had plenty of other what could have been moments purely from open play today but set pieces is a situation that if we put some focus on we could be getting more goals to keep us in the fight when we next find ourselves in these kind of dropping an early lead situations. 

It was interesting to see the bench whenever we there was a corner (and I think free kicks in range).
Uffie stepped back and Chiefy jumped up and came to edge of technical area directing traffic.

3 points here, three points there, we could be second or third place if we use our chances or do not screw up defending, it is so frustrating.
I still don't know why we play Sasse higher, get him the box with his fast feet and let him get chopped down, we need to force this.
I'm glad they played with some creativity at the end instead of trying only crosses into the box, if this would ever work. It was a good mix of attack varations.

Commentators and players Sasse is good in trainings makes me laugh. It's about game day!! It's time to bite the bullet and release him, need a better import. I also don't thin Wootton has played well lately but he's better than Payne there so bit of an issue really. I don't think we've bought well at all. Probably have to see it out. Any younger defenders that can do a job? UFUK not a great fan of playing young ones but would like to see a young CB come through. 

seriously - just go away. all you have is criticism, nothing constructive. 

We've seen gimpses of Sasse's talent and clearly he offers alot. Reports are he is great in trainings, the coach sees a lot more than you or I do as far as what he offers. He's new to the cleague, country and language, gotta give him time to settle into the team. It will come.

As far as playing young ones, have you not see Waine, OVH, Sutton, Elliott and more get game time over the last few years. Ufuk is more focussed on developing youth than many. It's part of the clubs mantra.

God forbid someone has a difference in opinion. 

Waine was mucked round and should've left earlier. Would like to see Sutton, Elliot and the other young ones get a run of games to establish themselves as a pro footballer. Want to see young ones coming through and staying in the side not a game here or there then sold for a cheap wicket.

theprof

seriously - just go away. all you have is criticism, nothing constructive. 

We've seen gimpses of Sasse's talent and clearly he offers alot. Reports are he is great in trainings, the coach sees a lot more than you or I do as far as what he offers. He's new to the cleague, country and language, gotta give him time to settle into the team. It will come.

As far as playing young ones, have you not see Waine, OVH, Sutton, Elliott and more get game time over the last few years. Ufuk is more focussed on developing youth than many. It's part of the clubs mantra.

to be fair its perfectly OK for him to have a different opinion, you don't have to engage with it. I don't agree with a lot of what he has to say but I definitely see some points.

You tend to be very dismissive of any opinion that doesn't align with your own.

Showtime Nixie

God forbid someone has a difference in opinion. 

Waine was mucked round and should've left earlier. Would like to see Sutton, Elliot and the other young ones get a run of games to establish themselves as a pro footballer. Want to see young ones coming through and staying in the side not a game here or there then sold for a cheap wicket.

 
Front up a few million a year and you can let Waine go any time you like.  

Young players have to earn the right to get starts in a team not expect to just have it handed to them. I would be very surprised if Waine thought he had been mucked around by the Phoenix. No problems having a different opinion to others just gets boring when its the same old negative stuff all the time. To suggest the Phoenix dosnt give young players a shot is so wrong its funny. 

ballane i agree...but for example Sutton gets chopped and changed with the aussie left back who lets in crosses for goals. Pick n stick with young Elliot - give him and others a proper crack...plus their kiwis. Better for this NZF and Phoenix "relationship" they've got going on too.

Back to Sasse - unfortunately as an import in this league at any club you have to perform and he hasn't 95% of the time. Urked fans i know when we had to switch Ball over the other side at halftime to compensate for Sasses deficiencies - that's slightly unacceptable for an import slot. Potentially cost us the game the way Ball was going, and i think Iffil made mention of this at halftime. Can't be doing this every week. Hope Talays not playing him just to justify his signing. In this league you have to get your imports correct - the big teams have to an extent. Can't be a 1 in 5 game player as an import or not.

Some may find my comments above "negative" i apologise, however i don't believe they are. Often perception i get it. 

the switch of sides wasnt purely based on Sasse's lack of defending, yes that was a major part of it, but it eas also that City attack primarily down that side. Not every player will be as defensively aware/capable as Ball, some have to be solely attack focussed. It's a team game.

Showtime Nixie

ballane i agree...but for example Sutton gets chopped and changed with the aussie left back who lets in crosses for goals. Pick n stick with young Elliot - give him and others a proper crack...plus their kiwis. Better for this NZF and Phoenix "relationship" they've got going on too.

Back to Sasse - unfortunately as an import in this league at any club you have to perform and he hasn't 95% of the time. Urked fans i know when we had to switch Ball over the other side at halftime to compensate for Sasses deficiencies - that's slightly unacceptable for an import slot. Potentially cost us the game the way Ball was going, and i think Iffil made mention of this at halftime. Can't be doing this every week. Hope Talays not playing him just to justify his signing. In this league you have to get your imports correct - the big teams have to an extent. Can't be a 1 in 5 game player as an import or not.

Some may find my comments above "negative" i apologise, however i don't believe they are. Often perception i get it. 

critique of players and managers is fine, but make it reasoned and offer solutions rather than just Uffie is shark, or Sasse is terrible for an import. We lall have our faves and our scapegoats (mine has been Rufer for a long time) but we all offer reasons why we think a player isnt doing enough or why they are not suceeding as we want in this system not just taking un reasoned pot shots.

Giving the youth a chance to shine is why we have the academy, if they make a good show there then they'll get bench time and potentially gametime. The league itself is not the place to be blooding untried and unproven kids.

Showtime Nixie

ballane i agree...but for example Sutton gets chopped and changed with the aussie left back who lets in crosses for goals. Pick n stick with young Elliot - give him and others a proper crack...plus their kiwis. Better for this NZF and Phoenix "relationship" they've got going on too.

Back to Sasse - unfortunately as an import in this league at any club you have to perform and he hasn't 95% of the time. Urked fans i know when we had to switch Ball over the other side at halftime to compensate for Sasses deficiencies - that's slightly unacceptable for an import slot. Potentially cost us the game the way Ball was going, and i think Iffil made mention of this at halftime. Can't be doing this every week. Hope Talays not playing him just to justify his signing. In this league you have to get your imports correct - the big teams have to an extent. Can't be a 1 in 5 game player as an import or not.

Some may find my comments above "negative" i apologise, however i don't believe they are. Often perception i get it. 

 Re: Sutton - kinda hard to play when you're crook/injured. Plus I think Maraugis has looked pretty good at times, especially on the attack

Theprof i have made it reasoned - I've stated actual stat and fact around Ufuk on the UFUK TALAY section.

Last years excuses were all around "covid"...now what.

My issue in recent time with the Fenix is that we've made poor decisions on players in regards to signings or because they're not great we.. like you say have to come up with "solutions" to involve them! It does not work and gets you nowhere in the long run. Best to cut losses. So with Sasse release him and free up cash if it can be agreed upon.


I also dont think this 4-2-2-2 suits the team - Lewis needs to own and run the game in deeper possession - i would like to see him play alone in front of a back 3 or back for and dictate the flow of play.  I would like to see a 3-5-2 with a holder/possession dictator with an 8 box to box role with Ugarkovic and with Kraev or Kosta in the 10 role - preferably Kosta as he can play in tight areas and is attack minded. It just looks to me that Fenix have little idea how to defend in this strange system.

As a wise man once said "Simplicity is genius and complexity is to hide you're not good enough"...actually it was Mourinho but i rate it. Questions Talay for me. Solution would be to move him on and throw the role up on SEEK. 

fair enough, I think most here would disagree with you on most of your points. I'll pick on your spelling of Phoenix, but that shark annoys me.
I'm not sure we've ever had the CB's to play a back 3, but sure if we had the 3 CB's I'd be keen to see it tried - FYI we dont!
Three at the back puts more pressure on your two wide players, are they wing backs or midfielders? Sutton and Eliot and Marauris could all do the job as long as your two CM players defended well - which this season they have not. Front men for me are doing the job needed. 
So you're saying we dont have the players for 4-2-2-2 and yet I fail to see us currently having the players to play a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2.

How can a club not have 3 CBS?? that in itself tells you a lot!

Anyones guess what team we will put out this week but at least we will know the formation.

Have to beat Sydney...Corica could go if they don't beat us. Ufuk has immunity so no real pressure to win...unless its a reflection on his All Whites push.

hope for the best anyway..

I actually liked to see uffy making a proper tactical shift when we went behind with kosta in for ugarkovic, I think he has been guilty in the past of not making the changes needed to chase a game and it certainly created enough chances to get something from the game.
zawada will no doubt be very disappointed not to score after three or four decent half chances
I liked seeing more of sasse through the middle in the second half, still quiet but you can see he has that something needed to receive the ball between the lines and drive forwards, just needs the confidence to take his man and get a shot off

Showtime Nixie

How can a club not have 3 CBS?? that in itself tells you a lot!

Anyones guess what team we will put out this week but at least we will know the formation.

Have to beat Sydney...Corica could go if they don't beat us. Ufuk has immunity so no real pressure to win...unless its a reflection on his All Whites push.

hope for the best anyway..

Wootton, Payne, Laws, Surman. We have four centre backs, they’re just not the right kind of players to play a back 3. CB is our worst/weakest position, don’t think we should try fix that problem by putting another one on the field.

Showtime Nixie

How can a club not have 3 CBS?? that in itself tells you a lot!

Anyones guess what team we will put out this week but at least we will know the formation.

Have to beat Sydney...Corica could go if they don't beat us. Ufuk has immunity so no real pressure to win...unless its a reflection on his All Whites push.

hope for the best anyway..

clearly misread my post I said we dont have the 3 CB to play 3 at the back, no that we dont have 3 CBs. As Friar Tuck has pointed out we have 4 CBs at present but none would be strong enough to be involved in a back 3.

Sasse is still not good enough imho. His first touch is not great so can't do what Kraev, Ball, or Davila, Piscopo do and receive the ball under pressure/in congested areas and progress play positively. It's crucial to how we play (same thing hindering Kosta from playing that role consistently). Old has a better touch and I have been hard on him playing with his head down/running into blind alleys but feel that's been improving and if not Ball then Old over Sasse for me. 

Maybe it's just me but I thought Sasse was one of our best creative outlets in what I saw of the game (2nd half). Being compared to Kraev and Davila is a tough standard. 

Be careful Bullion you may be called a troll if you state dislike for Sasse or any other player for that matter. I will probably get called one for agreeing with you.

I also believe Old is more useful and again i believe a younger player like Old should be given a longer run of games in a pick n stick approach.

If we don't have enough CBS to change shape or a formation that's alarming, so we can only ever play 4 at the back? Huge question marks over recruitment. Can UFUK not play any other way? seems limited. 

It's ok not to rate a player, but when you keep going back to a young kiwi who was ill for that game your arguement loses a bit or impetous. The league limits tall squads to 23 players so carrying more players in one position to allow easy shape changes is tough. We have 4 CB's who can start, but none of them are really dominant enough to be part of a back 3. The club/Uffie has recruited to suit his style of play, we all know he prefers one shape and he has stuck with it, which he is entitled to do. 

dunnix

Showtime Nixie

ballane i agree...but for example Sutton gets chopped and changed with the aussie left back who lets in crosses for goals. Pick n stick with young Elliot - give him and others a proper crack...plus their kiwis. Better for this NZF and Phoenix "relationship" they've got going on too.

Back to Sasse - unfortunately as an import in this league at any club you have to perform and he hasn't 95% of the time. Urked fans i know when we had to switch Ball over the other side at halftime to compensate for Sasses deficiencies - that's slightly unacceptable for an import slot. Potentially cost us the game the way Ball was going, and i think Iffil made mention of this at halftime. Can't be doing this every week. Hope Talays not playing him just to justify his signing. In this league you have to get your imports correct - the big teams have to an extent. Can't be a 1 in 5 game player as an import or not.

Some may find my comments above "negative" i apologise, however i don't believe they are. Often perception i get it. 

 Re: Sutton - kinda hard to play when you're crook/injured. Plus I think Maraugis has looked pretty good at times, especially on the attack

 
The problem I have with Mauragis is that he slows down play. He has a lot of empty space in front of him on the left side. Instead of running into it and speed up the transition, he stops looks around halfway and pass to the side or back. It drives me nuts! I think he is able to run into the space beat a man and create and overload. Can someone explain why? That was great with Cacace, he just bursted forward and created havoc.

I think Mauragis has been solid all season and did advance the play on a number of occasions on Monday. Sutton is the only one of the current fullbacks who is quick and creative.

Showtime Nixie

Be careful Bullion you may be called a troll if you state dislike for Sasse or any other player for that matter. I will probably get called one for agreeing with you.

I also believe Old is more useful and again i believe a younger player like Old should be given a longer run of games in a pick n stick approach.

If we don't have enough CBS to change shape or a formation that's alarming, so we can only ever play 4 at the back? Huge question marks over recruitment. Can UFUK not play any other way? seems limited. 

Old just had surgery on a hernia so no wonder he’s not playing over Sasse.