The best team at the end of the season will most probably be top, but the season is only about half way. We will have to wait for a few months yet.kungfu panda
Leggy
We may be top of the league (and long may it continue) but I doubt we are the best team in the league.Monto
I think the main criticism re the passing backwards is to do with the lack of willingness to play the ball into the box to get a shot away. We often have the ball up there and then recycle back all the way to the keeper without ever getting a shot away. That can be frustrating to watch at times. It seems that the only times that we do end up getting shots away is when we're on the counter, which we do brilliantly well. Some people, myself included, would just like to see the odd probing pass in the final third not on a counter, we have the talent to do it.
I don't think anyone here is talking about our general play along the backline, we all understand the concept of moving the opposition out of position.
There's a big difference between think a good team can be even better and thinking a bad team is shark. Both positions are critical but come from very different places.
Anyway, we're the best team in the league and we have the potential to be even better, thats a pretty exciting time for a Nix fan.
Leggy
I'm confused by how we define the best team in the league. I always thought that the team with the most points at the end of the season was considered to be the best team in the league for that season? Maybe in my years of following Liverpool in the 1970's when we won the league more than once, maybe Paisley's teams weren't the best, maybe it was Southampton who were the best but they simply had fewer points at the end of the season?
Ok. Fair enough. I think that we are the best team. I think that we still have 15 goals from Oskar Zawada to come, provided he remains injury free. And I think that it gets more difficult from here to score against us.
My opinion of where we rank in the league: Melb Victory- struggling without Fornaroli, similar to when we got so reliant on Zawada last season and could barely play without him when he had his baby. Struggle to break teams down who sit back and are better in an open game with space. Us at our best vs victory at their best is an even game, perhaps swaying to their side.
Wanderers- strong defensive team with attacking threats such as barello who has been injured. Us at our best vs them at their best is swaying our side in my opinion.
I believe all teams struggle to beat us when we are having a good game. This is why I think we are defenitely top 3 in the league in terms of tactical ability. Wanderers and victory have the quality to potentially find ways through our defence.
Can we keep up our class defence? We are title contenders.
We've held the number one spot for 50% of the season and have been in the top three for all rounds except one and two. It's a fair assumption that we're title contenders.
Let's not forget, the Jets munted the Roar earlier in the week and they looked a very good side, better than their league position suggests. Listening to their coach after the game, he made a lot of sense. A real thinker of the game, like Chiefy.
That has to be the 2nd worst pitch in the A League and on Friday night we get to ly on the very worst pitch - Suncorp. An embarrassing sharkhole that is begging too injure any player. Like the Jets, the Roar are not as bad as their results show. So the Nix really need to be on their game and we might get the result we hope for.
Lastly, We get Rufer & Payne back for our home game on the 6th. Both fully refreshed and itching to prove a point!!
We may be top of the league (and long may it continue) but I doubt we are the best team in the league.Monto
I think the main criticism re the passing backwards is to do with the lack of willingness to play the ball into the box to get a shot away. We often have the ball up there and then recycle back all the way to the keeper without ever getting a shot away. That can be frustrating to watch at times. It seems that the only times that we do end up getting shots away is when we're on the counter, which we do brilliantly well. Some people, myself included, would just like to see the odd probing pass in the final third not on a counter, we have the talent to do it.
I don't think anyone here is talking about our general play along the backline, we all understand the concept of moving the opposition out of position.
There's a big difference between think a good team can be even better and thinking a bad team is shark. Both positions are critical but come from very different places.
Anyway, we're the best team in the league and we have the potential to be even better, thats a pretty exciting time for a Nix fan.
Who do you think is the best team?
Man for man and on paper it is very hard to argue we are. You can see that from how we felt pre-season. But we’ve definitely had seasons where we could have won that argument or come close where we’ve missed out. In fact, every season bar one, that we’ve had a decent team it hasn’t been reflected in our final table position or finals run.
We’ve definitely had more entertaining teams: Smeltzy, Ifill, Roy, McG, Roly, Bertos, Burns, Davila, Hemed, Waine, Cacace, Singh, David Williams…
Chief has installed a tremendous spirit in the team. He’s also got great performances out of key players who, frankly, many of us might not have been that bothered if they left based on last year’s performances: Pennington, Kosta, Wootton and Payne.
He’s also got success from Kelly-Heald, despite him being found out at times. He’s replaced him or given extra support at times as he and the team have needed it, and we’ve reaped reward when he’s outplayed his opposite.
Fair to say he’s got performances out of Rufer, Paulsen and Surman too, but these I feel we knew were coming based on previous seasons.
You look at our record as a team this season on scoring late equalisers and winners and not conceding late. This speaks to a team that trusts itself and its tactics. And we’ve been adaptable and played out from the back well.
Sure you can look at K-H against Irukunda or Arzani and say we’re not good enough. But that matchup has given us an advantage in another areas.
This is just the same as pre-season. You’re looking at paper and saying what you expect the result to be based on your football norms.
Chief, Adam Griffiths and the boys have proved what we knew in preseason to be totally wrong. Totally wrong. And currently by the agreed standards they are the best team in the league and the best Phoenix team in recent history. They are having to fight hard for every point and struggle to be heavy favourites against anyone. They’ve had very few cake walks. But so far so good.
Don't discount the champions CCM if you're talking about contenders. Our game against them is massive.
CCM are on a hot streak but they have only left NSW twice since Rnd 4. They have Adelaide away, followed by the Nix midweek. So their first real away trip of the season.
Victory will eventually get Bruno back & they will have their goal scoring issues fixed again. I wouldn't count out Sydney come finals time as well.
There is a good chance that we can end up top of the league this season. That would be a massive success, and a statement to the newbie team from Auckland. I care about the finals, but not sufficiently to cry if we do not win the GF. The verdict on this team and on the coaching group will be based on how they managed the season, not how they managed one big game at the end, or if we get there.
So Leggy thinks the best teams are CC, Sydney and Victory? Or is it City? Please complete your post and thought and explain yourself.
Is defensive quality and mentality (and current results) allowed to be a factor in this?
Or is this a mysterious, inscrutable spray and walk away of the wisdom of the Queensland ocker?
It’s easy to win a debate you don’t engage in.
And in terms of challenging to be top players in the league in their positions: Rufer, Paulsen, Kosta, Zawada and possibly Pennington, Wootton and Payne.
The salary capped nature of the league is beginning to show through this season, where there isn’t a large gap between teams.
And sure, our schedule down the back straight will be tough: MacArthur twice, Central Coast twice, Sydney, Adelaide, City and Victory, as well as games against the Jets and Perth where we might be considered favourites, but whose teams are certainly no slouches.
But surely that’s the point of playing? As I said, almost every point this team has earned has been hard fought. If they can come through that, surely then by definition they have to be considered the best?
Let's not forget, the Jets munted the Roar earlier in the week and they looked a very good side, better than their league position suggests. Listening to their coach after the game, he made a lot of sense. A real thinker of the game, like Chiefy.
That has to be the 2nd worst pitch in the A League and on Friday night we get to ly on the very worst pitch - Suncorp. An embarrassing sharkhole that is begging too injure any player. Like the Jets, the Roar are not as bad as their results show. So the Nix really need to be on their game and we might get the result we hope for.
Lastly, We get Rufer & Payne back for our home game on the 6th. Both fully refreshed and itching to prove a point!!
Even after the biggest rock band on earth played at the sky stadium, a week later the pitch looks almost perfect. I'm not sure why all the other stadiums fail constantly.
So Leggy thinks the best teams are CC, Sydney and Victory? Or is it City? Please complete your post and thought and explain yourself.
Is defensive quality and mentality (and current results) allowed to be a factor in this?
Or is this a mysterious, inscrutable spray and walk away of the wisdom of the Queensland ocker?
It’s easy to win a debate you don’t engage in.
And in terms of challenging to be top players in the league in their positions: Rufer, Paulsen, Kosta, Zawada and possibly Pennington, Wootton and Payne.
The salary capped nature of the league is beginning to show through this season, where there isn’t a large gap between teams.
And sure, our schedule down the back straight will be tough: MacArthur twice, Central Coast twice, Sydney, Adelaide, City and Victory, as well as games against the Jets and Perth where we might be considered favourites, but whose teams are certainly no slouches.
But surely that’s the point of playing? As I said, almost every point this team has earned has been hard fought. If they can come through that, surely then by definition they have to be considered the best?
think it's more than just the salary cap, the APLs financial situation means it's probably not subsidising big name players for the big teams, the tv revenue and payout is massively down on forecast, and the cost of imports has increased as there's more competition for the calibre of players the a-league targets.
I wouldn't be surprised if most teams have cheaper squads than in previous years. For all the talk about us having a cheap squad, we had more imports than most teams at the start of the year.
So Leggy thinks the best teams are CC, Sydney and Victory? Or is it City? Please complete your post and thought and explain yourself.
Is defensive quality and mentality (and current results) allowed to be a factor in this?
Or is this a mysterious, inscrutable spray and walk away of the wisdom of the Queensland ocker?
It’s easy to win a debate you don’t engage in.
And in terms of challenging to be top players in the league in their positions: Rufer, Paulsen, Kosta, Zawada and possibly Pennington, Wootton and Payne.
The salary capped nature of the league is beginning to show through this season, where there isn’t a large gap between teams.
And sure, our schedule down the back straight will be tough: MacArthur twice, Central Coast twice, Sydney, Adelaide, City and Victory, as well as games against the Jets and Perth where we might be considered favourites, but whose teams are certainly no slouches.
But surely that’s the point of playing? As I said, almost every point this team has earned has been hard fought. If they can come through that, surely then by definition they have to be considered the best?
think it's more than just the salary cap, the APLs financial situation means it's probably not subsidising big name players for the big teams, the tv revenue and payout is massively down on forecast, and the cost of imports has increased as there's more competition for the calibre of players the a-league targets.
I wouldn't be surprised if most teams have cheaper squads than in previous years. For all the talk about us having a cheap squad, we had more imports than most teams at the start of the year.
I don't know, I think that most of our opposition have Marquee players who've delivered well this season, Fornaroli, Taggart, Lolley spring to mind, while our Marquee has been sidelined for most of the season.
The reason that we're exceeding expectations is two fold, firstly the players in the squad are actually better players than we gave credit for. Secondly the management, I don't want to repeat what martinb said but the determination and grit thing.
The example of good management to me is Kraev. An excellent player but a player who is unable to maintain top class levels every game. I don't know what Chiefy tells him but it seems something like, give me your top class performances when you can but when you can't give me a gritty fighting performance. That's what Kraev has delivered this season.
So Leggy thinks the best teams are CC, Sydney and Victory? Or is it City? Please complete your post and thought and explain yourself.
Is defensive quality and mentality (and current results) allowed to be a factor in this?
Or is this a mysterious, inscrutable spray and walk away of the wisdom of the Queensland ocker?
It’s easy to win a debate you don’t engage in.
And in terms of challenging to be top players in the league in their positions: Rufer, Paulsen, Kosta, Zawada and possibly Pennington, Wootton and Payne.
The salary capped nature of the league is beginning to show through this season, where there isn’t a large gap between teams.
And sure, our schedule down the back straight will be tough: MacArthur twice, Central Coast twice, Sydney, Adelaide, City and Victory, as well as games against the Jets and Perth where we might be considered favourites, but whose teams are certainly no slouches.
But surely that’s the point of playing? As I said, almost every point this team has earned has been hard fought. If they can come through that, surely then by definition they have to be considered the best?
think it's more than just the salary cap, the APLs financial situation means it's probably not subsidising big name players for the big teams, the tv revenue and payout is massively down on forecast, and the cost of imports has increased as there's more competition for the calibre of players the a-league targets.
I wouldn't be surprised if most teams have cheaper squads than in previous years. For all the talk about us having a cheap squad, we had more imports than most teams at the start of the year.
Nice for a change to have more imports than many. I argued during the game that the League is weaker. Which is a bit of a problem, but it also means we're as good as anybody at the moment. I think a fair bit of that is Chief getting the best out of individual players and getting the tactical side pretty spot on to get results. And I think we're all recognising that the heart and fight he seems to have instilled in the side is a decent part of the results as well.
I'm just a bit of the mind that we are maximising our results, and a lot of them close. Hence my complaining that we'll need to be better with the ball. I was very pleased to hear Chief say as much after the match.
We were a bit affected by the loss of Payne. Pennington wasn't in the middle to help control things going forward and Old wasn't starting to add some zip. Guys like Kosta look a lot better when the opposition has more than just him to worry about for pace. But we got a lot more positive when Old came on (and needed to at that point given they had been getting the upper hand). With him and Zawada on, plus Van Hattum, we looked far more incisive. And more full of intent accross the park. Much the same as we switched on vs Victory when we went behind.
I think we can improve and that if we can keep Old fit and get Zawada back, we're in with a change of matching the big teams as they build for the finals. But I feel we're going to need to be less wasteful in possession.
So Leggy thinks the best teams are CC, Sydney and Victory? Or is it City? Please complete your post and thought and explain yourself.
Is defensive quality and mentality (and current results) allowed to be a factor in this?
Or is this a mysterious, inscrutable spray and walk away of the wisdom of the Queensland ocker?
It’s easy to win a debate you don’t engage in.
And in terms of challenging to be top players in the league in their positions: Rufer, Paulsen, Kosta, Zawada and possibly Pennington, Wootton and Payne.
The salary capped nature of the league is beginning to show through this season, where there isn’t a large gap between teams.
And sure, our schedule down the back straight will be tough: MacArthur twice, Central Coast twice, Sydney, Adelaide, City and Victory, as well as games against the Jets and Perth where we might be considered favourites, but whose teams are certainly no slouches.
But surely that’s the point of playing? As I said, almost every point this team has earned has been hard fought. If they can come through that, surely then by definition they have to be considered the best?
think it's more than just the salary cap, the APLs financial situation means it's probably not subsidising big name players for the big teams, the tv revenue and payout is massively down on forecast, and the cost of imports has increased as there's more competition for the calibre of players the a-league targets.
I wouldn't be surprised if most teams have cheaper squads than in previous years. For all the talk about us having a cheap squad, we had more imports than most teams at the start of the year.
I don't know, I think that most of our opposition have Marquee players who've delivered well this season, Fornaroli, Taggart, Lolley spring to mind, while our Marquee has been sidelined for most of the season.
The reason that we're exceeding expectations is two fold, firstly the players in the squad are actually better players than we gave credit for. Secondly the management, I don't want to repeat what martinb said but the determination and grit thing.
The example of good management to me is Kraev. An excellent player but a player who is unable to maintain top class levels every game. I don't know what Chiefy tells him but it seems something like, give me your top class performances when you can but when you can't give me a gritty fighting performance. That's what Kraev has delivered this season.
im not saying we have the most expensive squad or anything like that, just that a lot of teams have also got cheaper squads than last year.
Hard to know, if anything it might result in addtional shirt sales. Some dislike the yellow designs, others love the black and some hate it. If it results in more shirt sales overall its a win.
