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WPW R18 vs Melbourne Victory | Sun 3rd Mar | 4:00pm | Sky Sport 7
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350192585/wellington-phoenix-need-away-win-save-league-women-season
After fielding a severely depleted lineup against Western United in their last match, the Phoenix have been boosted by the return of most of their Football Ferns contingent as well as top scorer Mariana Speckmaier for the match against Victory.
After fielding a severely depleted lineup against Western United in their last match, the Phoenix have been boosted by the return of most of their Football Ferns contingent as well as top scorer Mariana Speckmaier for the match against Victory.
The two teams have battled to 2-2 draws in their last two meetings, but both of those fixtures have been in Wellington.
Captain Annalie Longo (calf) is the only doubtful selection, though she will be given every chance to prove her fitness for the trip across the Tasman. Grace Wisnewski and Marisa van der Meer will play no further part due to long-term injuries.
Article doesn't mention that Kate Taylor is also out injured. (from memory she came off in the last FF match after getting a knock).
So who plays DM. Either Lake or Foster?. Or both with Fraser as AM ?
With Longo doubtful and Taylor injured. The other option I wouldn't mind seeing is Errington given a start. Thought she looked very good when she came on in the last game.
So who plays DM. Either Lake or Foster?. Or both with Fraser as AM ?
With Longo doubtful and Taylor injured. The other option I wouldn't mind seeing is Errington given a start. Thought she looked very good when she came on in the last game.
Article doesn't mention that Kate Taylor is also out injured. (from memory she came off in the last FF match after getting a knock).
So who plays DM. Either Lake or Foster?. Or both with Fraser as AM ?
With Longo doubtful and Taylor injured. The other option I wouldn't mind seeing is Errington given a start. Thought she looked very good when she came on in the last game.
So who plays DM. Either Lake or Foster?. Or both with Fraser as AM ?
With Longo doubtful and Taylor injured. The other option I wouldn't mind seeing is Errington given a start. Thought she looked very good when she came on in the last game.
Agree. Think Errington is the only one who hasn’t been given a chance to start. I watched her a few times when she played at Ole with the U17 boys , super technical with good vision and great at assisting and scoring despite being much smaller than most of the boys. I’m sure her and Macy could weave some magic for the team.
Happy for Lake to play DM she is technically better than Taylor and I think it suits her well. To me DM is the one who is always thinking what if we lose the ball, am I best positioned to stop them counterattacking or if I have support can I win the ball and then keep it. That suits Lake best and she would be a great option there for the Ferns too
Emma Main with a shocking 1v1 finish straight into the goalkeepers gloves, one minute later Victory score. Sigh...
Emma Main with a shocking 1v1 finish straight into the goalkeepers gloves, one minute later Victory score. Sigh...
Poor defending again 2-0 down. Was a very questionable free kick in the lead up to that though.
Looking pretty off the pace. Only the one game in the last month maybe a reason why.
Looking pretty off the pace. Only the one game in the last month maybe a reason why.
tough start to this one. Foster should have done better on the 2nd goal.
tough start to this one. Foster should have done better on the 2nd goal.
That was a good save mind
Set pieces again. Giving 22-23 vibes.
Set pieces again. Giving 22-23 vibes.
To be fair, the first and fourth goals were pretty tidy.
Hopefully we can stem the damage a bit second half.
Hopefully we can stem the damage a bit second half.
2nd and 3rd goal we had no one defending the back post. Two tap in for them not a nix player even close by......
I'm at the game and the difference between the teams is stark - much more energy, movement and, well.. quality from MV. I hope the Nix are having double-shot espressos at half time.
Is temps off to a dinner party afterwards WTF is up with his wardrobe choices?
Oh dear. Next to bottom finish is on the cards, Im afraid.
Ive watched the highlights, there was some pretty woeful defending.
Ive watched the highlights, there was some pretty woeful defending.
5pts off the top six now
5pts off the top six now
Thought they were much better in 2nd half. With Lake as DM. And Jaber on right side of defence . Tried to move the bal quicker and showed more intensity in the middle of the park. Errington with another good performance coming on for the last 20 min.
Whinham might be better playing a bit deeper. Working hard and looked very good on the ball but not getting enough of it. Especially one twos where she was demanding the ball but not getting it. Still see her as a top prospect.
Thought they were much better in 2nd half. With Lake as DM. And Jaber on right side of defence . Tried to move the bal quicker and showed more intensity in the middle of the park. Errington with another good performance coming on for the last 20 min.
Well, that was disappointing. Davidson, offers nothing in attack, can’t tackle or even track players or get in the way to block shots or tap ins. Ffs. 1st and 2md goals absent. And Breslin, she’s being asked to play centre mid and she is not suited to that position. She’s more suited to wide, but she’s not good enough to start.
We one need to play two holding mids in Aussie as we get opened up repeatedly.
I’d rather we are less attacking and don’t get smashed and have both Lake and Taylor instead of having an unbalanced side with Breslin or Foster trying to be holding mid and Fraser and Whinham. There was a reason that Lampard and Gerard hardly played together in centre mid for Engerland, they didn’t have balance in their team if they both played.
I would go:4231
Speckmaier
Cox Whinham/Fraser Main/Elliot
Lake Taylor
Foster Barry Jaber McMeeken
Foster
Subs: Edwards,
Fraser/Whinham.
Main/Elliot/Robertson
Longo,
Errington/McMillan/Brazendale.
Having Lake and Taylor as holding mids would give Foster and McMeeken more confidence to push forward which we have hardly seen our fullbacks go forward this season (a really big missed opportunity imho). Whilst knowing that if it breaks down there are one or two defensively sound players providing cover.
We one need to play two holding mids in Aussie as we get opened up repeatedly.
I’d rather we are less attacking and don’t get smashed and have both Lake and Taylor instead of having an unbalanced side with Breslin or Foster trying to be holding mid and Fraser and Whinham. There was a reason that Lampard and Gerard hardly played together in centre mid for Engerland, they didn’t have balance in their team if they both played.
I would go:4231
Speckmaier
Cox Whinham/Fraser Main/Elliot
Lake Taylor
Foster Barry Jaber McMeeken
Foster
Subs: Edwards,
Fraser/Whinham.
Main/Elliot/Robertson
Longo,
Errington/McMillan/Brazendale.
Having Lake and Taylor as holding mids would give Foster and McMeeken more confidence to push forward which we have hardly seen our fullbacks go forward this season (a really big missed opportunity imho). Whilst knowing that if it breaks down there are one or two defensively sound players providing cover.
We are definitely exposed with no natural holding mid that is for sure.
My current lineup from those that are currently fit (sadly counting Taylor and Longo as currently unavailable):
Speckmaier
Cox Main Robertson
Fraser (8)
Lake (6)
Foster Barry Jaber McMeeken
Edwards
Subs:
Foster (possibly controversial benching Foster, but I feel since Foster has come into the team, our defenders have lost confidence having the ball at their feet - possibly in part due to their inability to play it round with Foster as they used to with Edwards)
Whinham to sub on for Fraser or Main - Whinham is finding her feet again, however sometimes she overplays it and then is pushed off the ball, especially in the beginning stages of each game. Also on at least a couple of occasions she was shooting from outside of the box rather than passing it to an unmarked runner.
Breslin - Although slightly better today, I don't know what position she really excels at ... possibly as a sub to bring on in place of any of the front three when they tire - and then move one of the others up top? This could also then been Elliot or Brown (although Brown appears to have fallen out of favour with Temple)
Errington - to come on if any of the defenders need a sub and then we move to three at the back.
Davidson - as last line defensive cover.
Having Taylor and Longo out at present makes things very hard!
My current lineup from those that are currently fit (sadly counting Taylor and Longo as currently unavailable):
Speckmaier
Cox Main Robertson
Fraser (8)
Lake (6)
Foster Barry Jaber McMeeken
Edwards
Subs:
Foster (possibly controversial benching Foster, but I feel since Foster has come into the team, our defenders have lost confidence having the ball at their feet - possibly in part due to their inability to play it round with Foster as they used to with Edwards)
Whinham to sub on for Fraser or Main - Whinham is finding her feet again, however sometimes she overplays it and then is pushed off the ball, especially in the beginning stages of each game. Also on at least a couple of occasions she was shooting from outside of the box rather than passing it to an unmarked runner.
Breslin - Although slightly better today, I don't know what position she really excels at ... possibly as a sub to bring on in place of any of the front three when they tire - and then move one of the others up top? This could also then been Elliot or Brown (although Brown appears to have fallen out of favour with Temple)
Errington - to come on if any of the defenders need a sub and then we move to three at the back.
Davidson - as last line defensive cover.
Having Taylor and Longo out at present makes things very hard!
The whole bunch seem to be underperforming, so I guess its more of a team setup thing than individual ability.
Having said that, Id pack off Davidson and Breslin for the rest of the season.
Use Jaber , Errington, McMeeken before any of those.
Goodness knows what Davidson was doing yesterday. Either she is inexperienced or she is being given poor directional instructions.
Defensively we are weak in the air and rely on Lake. The two corner goals were great from an attacking point of view, but goodness me poor setup from a defending view.
Dont see any harm in giving Edwards a run either, we aint going anywhere this season.
Having said that, Id pack off Davidson and Breslin for the rest of the season.
Use Jaber , Errington, McMeeken before any of those.
Goodness knows what Davidson was doing yesterday. Either she is inexperienced or she is being given poor directional instructions.
Defensively we are weak in the air and rely on Lake. The two corner goals were great from an attacking point of view, but goodness me poor setup from a defending view.
Dont see any harm in giving Edwards a run either, we aint going anywhere this season.
The disappointing thing is watching this teams performances go backwards compared to the start of the season.
You could argue a lot of reasons for this. Including losing guality players to ACL injuries and other. Disrupted preparation because of Football Ferns callups. Inconsistent first XI teams due to injury and the above.
But at the end of the day you have to question the coaching. Could it have been better. Temple seems to be persisting with a system that is not working for this group. It's been figured out by other teams and has become easy to counter by applying pressure in midfield and exploiting room on the flanks. Do we really have the talent to be playing this 'small ball'. Should we have been playing a different system away from home. As mention above. More a 4-2-3-1. To give better defensive cover. Temple I'm sure is learning a lot along the way, but this game is a result based business and he is failing on that level.
A lot of other teams in this league have been slowly improving as the season goes on, but I haven't seen it in this team.
Perth are probably the exception. Started season strong but are dropping down the table now like us. So I see our next game against Perth as must win, if we have any desire to make top 6. For me (assuming Taylor is injured and Longo won't start)
Edwards
McMeekan Jaber Barry Foster
Lake Breslin/Errington
Cox Fraser/Whinham Robertson/Main
Speckmaier
Longo, Elliot the others off the bench.
You could argue a lot of reasons for this. Including losing guality players to ACL injuries and other. Disrupted preparation because of Football Ferns callups. Inconsistent first XI teams due to injury and the above.
But at the end of the day you have to question the coaching. Could it have been better. Temple seems to be persisting with a system that is not working for this group. It's been figured out by other teams and has become easy to counter by applying pressure in midfield and exploiting room on the flanks. Do we really have the talent to be playing this 'small ball'. Should we have been playing a different system away from home. As mention above. More a 4-2-3-1. To give better defensive cover. Temple I'm sure is learning a lot along the way, but this game is a result based business and he is failing on that level.
A lot of other teams in this league have been slowly improving as the season goes on, but I haven't seen it in this team.
Perth are probably the exception. Started season strong but are dropping down the table now like us. So I see our next game against Perth as must win, if we have any desire to make top 6. For me (assuming Taylor is injured and Longo won't start)
Edwards
McMeekan Jaber Barry Foster
Lake Breslin/Errington
Cox Fraser/Whinham Robertson/Main
Speckmaier
Longo, Elliot the others off the bench.
I think the loss of van der Meer, Wisnewski and Knott took a lot of the core out of our lineup, plus 2 more core players missing Longo and Taylor makes it very hard o play to the level we were at. Speckmaier made a difference coming on. Hard for coaches to counter all that.
