A League title tracker: Come on Phoenix!

Ryan

The form for both us and CCM is good, literally a goal (to convert one of those draws into a win, as well as the goal difference) in it. It's really close between us and you'd be brave to bet against either team.

Wheels have to really fall off for anyone to catch us, even Sydney.

Seeing the way WSW capitulated against Melbourne City, no wonder MC jumped over them into 6th place (for the moment).  They may yet go on a run of wins.

Tonight AFC Cup playoff 2nd leg, Mariners (4-0 up after 1st leg) in India to play Roy Krishna's Odisha. Hopefully CCM get the job done. APL have rescheduled their ALM game that was down for this weekend, so CCM can focus on this big trip and the AFC Cup financial rewards.

CCM are now facing a congested match calendar now, with some long travel. They host the Nix 6th April in a biggie. Nix need just a draw against SFC this weekend to stay atop the ALM, until 30th March when it resumes after the international break.  

coochiee

Tonight AFC Cup playoff 2nd leg, Mariners (4-0 up after 1st leg) in India to play Roy Krishna's Odisha. Hopefully CCM get the job done. APL have rescheduled their ALM game that was down for this weekend, so CCM can focus on this big trip and the AFC Cup financial rewards.

CCM are now facing a congested match calendar now, with some long travel. They host the Nix 6th April in a biggie. Nix need just a draw against SFC this weekend to stay atop the ALM, until 30th March when it resumes after the international break.  

CCM are gonna have 8 games in the span of a month while we're gonna have 5 games. So you'd think fatigue and injuries might come into play for the title run in for CCM.

Amongst those 8 games (presuming CCM get past Odisha), will be a long haul to Kyrgyzstan (I'm guessing a 50-60 hour round trip) for their next 2 legged AFC Cup playoff series.

I also see the AFC Cup Final is down for 5th May 2024. Seems it is to be played in either Lebanon or Oman. That's same weekend of the ALM Elimination finals (4 teams 3rd-6th). Teams 1st & 2nd with that weekend off.

So in an ideal world the Nix finish 1st & CCM 2nd, and Mariners make AFC Cup Final. Then whilst the Nix rest up that weekend, the Mariners are off to either Beirut or Muscat. That would be P for Perfect.

I guess if the Mariners finish 3rd-6th and are in an Elimination Final, things get very tricky for the APL.  Can AFC then reschedule the AFC Cup final??

Note APL are helping CCM by rescheduling their Melbourne City game (to 2nd April), that was down for this weekend. All good news for the Nix who will play CCM on a short 4 day turnaround 6th April.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023%E2%80%9324_AFC_Cup
Schedule
Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | 6–7 March 2024 | 13–14 March 2024
Inter-zone play-off final | 17 April 2024 | 24 April 2024
Final | 5 May 2024

Count me in as a certified Mariners fan (for tonight only).

Lets win it ourselves by smashing all in front of us. You never want to leave it to someone elses results. 

Nah I love it when rivals stumble. Victory did tonight, would be great to see a Macarthur/Mariners draw this weekend and us beating Sydney, would open up a two points lead at the top and a massive gap down to third

Edit: heck, the Macarthur/Mariners game was last weekend. A concerning lapse in memory haha. Let's just pretend I meant Macarthur & Mariners both drop points 

imanixsupporter

Nah I love it when rivals stumble. Victory did tonight, would be great to see a Macarthur/Mariners draw this weekend and us beating Sydney, would open up a two points lead at the top and a massive gap down to third

Edit: heck, the Macarthur/Mariners game was last weekend. A concerning lapse in memory haha. Let's just pretend I meant Macarthur & Mariners both drop points 

Mariners don't play in the ALM again until 30th March (SFC away) post FIFA window. They are currently in India, and APL has rescheduled this weekend's Melb City game until 2nd April.

Nix only need a draw this weekend to go atop the league until at least 30th March.

Edit - 80 mins, and it's still 0-0 in India, Mariners 4-0 up on aggregate.
So they are 2 games away from the AFC Cup Final and minimum $USD6750K payday. That's very tempting cash compared to nil dollars for winning the ALM.

When ALM restarts they have SFC 30th March (A), Melb City 2nd April (H), Nix 6th April (H). So 3 games in a week. Then a resurgent Western United 13th April (A). After that is their long haul to Kyrgyzstan on 17th April for 1st leg of 2 legged AFC Cup playoff. April is going to be very very tough for them. I can see them rolling out an almost 'B' team for WU game as that game is Kyrgyzstan will be sooo important now. They can smell that $USD750K payday.

I'd make Nix championship favourites now, even more so if beat SFC this weekend.

Finished a 0-0 draw in India. 4-0 win for Mariners on aggregate.

Full game Krishna. Be interested to know how he played, and if he still is keen to return to the ALM with Auckland. But I've said it before the ISL is piss weak, and being 37 in August, he might be better to keep cashing in as long as he can in India.

That’s a pain- we really want them to play City next while City’s in this form…

coochiee

imanixsupporter

Nah I love it when rivals stumble. Victory did tonight, would be great to see a Macarthur/Mariners draw this weekend and us beating Sydney, would open up a two points lead at the top and a massive gap down to third

Edit: heck, the Macarthur/Mariners game was last weekend. A concerning lapse in memory haha. Let's just pretend I meant Macarthur & Mariners both drop points 

Mariners don't play in the ALM again until 30th March (SFC away) post FIFA window. They are currently in India, and APL has rescheduled this weekend's Melb City game until 2nd April.

Nix only need a draw this weekend to go atop the league until at least 30th March.

Edit - 80 mins, and it's still 0-0 in India, Mariners 4-0 up on aggregate.
So they are 2 games away from the AFC Cup Final and minimum $USD6750K payday. That's very tempting cash compared to nil dollars for winning the ALM.

When ALM restarts they have SFC 30th March (A), Melb City 2nd April (H), Nix 6th April (H). So 3 games in a week. Then a resurgent Western United 13th April (A). After that is their long haul to Kyrgyzstan on 17th April for 1st leg of 2 legged AFC Cup playoff. April is going to be very very tough for them. I can see them rolling out an almost 'B' team for WU game as that game is Kyrgyzstan will be sooo important now. They can smell that $USD750K payday.

I'd make Nix championship favourites now, even more so if beat SFC this weekend.

CCM will still qualify for the ACL if we win the League & they finish second but I think CCM will still play to win it, even if there isn't a financial reward for doing so.

Lose this game and I feel like we will be unlikely to win the league proper. Lucky we have a great record up in Auckland! 

We can draw every match now and probably be top 2. Unlikely any team beneath us will average more than 2 points per game. It'd be a disappointing end to a great season though. 

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But what we make for ourselves! Even a loss today we can still win this thing. 

Oceanic6

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But what we make for ourselves! Even a loss today we can still win this thing. 

We're going to win today. A Panda's 🐼 intuition. 

Oceanic6

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But what we make for ourselves! Even a loss today we can still win this thing. 

technically, a loss today takes it out of our own hands. Even if we won the rest of our games, CCM could win the rest of theirs (except their game against us) and win the premier's plate on the number of wins tie-breaker. We need at least a point today to remain masters of our own destiny. 

Back on top for a couple more weeks. Fingers crossed that Sydney can do us a massive favor when the ALM returns. 

RR

Back on top for a couple more weeks. Fingers crossed that Sydney can do us a massive favor when the ALM returns. 

In Uffie we trust!

Hopefully a big crowd for us against Brisbane too. Domey will be pleading for it.

YoungHeartHM

RR

Back on top for a couple more weeks. Fingers crossed that Sydney can do us a massive favor when the ALM returns. 

In Uffie we trust!

Hopefully a big crowd for us against Brisbane too. Domey will be pleading for it.

Wonder how much it would cost to do another kids free match, so we can try to replicate Waitangi Day again?

We are 8 points clear of 3rd with 5 games to go. A win against Brisbane at home and that is top two locked in. I feel like we can already bank those three points. 

The Mariners have 3 tough games in a row now: Sydney, City & us. Fair play to them if they win the first two, but I expect they'll drop points in one of those games, meaning if we draw vs the Mariners then we would be in pole position heading into the last 3 games, two of which are at home against tricky opposition and one is away vs the Jets.

We are in a fantastic position. 

Hey
Sorry didn’t know where to post this.

If we finish 1 or 2

Do we know what date would likely be our home playoff game? 

Short answer is no. Think we'd probably choose to have the away leg first. If that happens, we'd play at home on the weekend of the 17-19th. Hurricanes play at Sky Stadium on the 17th.

FINALS RULES
Highest placed team may nominate preference to Host Leg 1 or 2
Away Goals Rule does not apply for Semi Finals

WEEK 1: ELIMINATION FINALS (Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th May 2024)
3rd Place (Home) vs 6th Place (Away)
4th Place (Home) vs 5th Place (Away)

WEEK 2: SEMI FINALS (LEG 1) (Friday 10th – Sun 12th May 2024)
1st Place vs Lowest Place EF Winner (4th, 5th or 6th on ladder)
2nd Place vs Highest Place EF Winner Match (3rd, 4th or 5th on ladder)

WEEK 3: SEMI FINALS (LEG 2) (Friday 17th – Sunday 19th May 2024)
1st Place vs Lowest Place EF Winner (4th, 5th or 6th on ladder)
2nd Place vs Highest Place EF Winner Match (3rd, 4th or 5th on ladder)

WEEK 4: GRAND FINAL (Weekend of 24-26 May 2024)
SF winner v SF winner (Highest Placed Team is the Grand Final Host) 

2ndBest

Short answer is no. Think we'd probably choose to have the away leg first. If that happens, we'd play at home on the weekend of the 17-19th. Hurricanes play at Sky Stadium on the 17th.

FINALS RULES
Highest placed team may nominate preference to Host Leg 1 or 2
Away Goals Rule does not apply for Semi Finals

WEEK 1: ELIMINATION FINALS (Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th May 2024)
3rd Place (Home) vs 6th Place (Away)
4th Place (Home) vs 5th Place (Away)

WEEK 2: SEMI FINALS (LEG 1) (Friday 10th – Sun 12th May 2024)
1st Place vs Lowest Place EF Winner (4th, 5th or 6th on ladder)
2nd Place vs Highest Place EF Winner Match (3rd, 4th or 5th on ladder)

WEEK 3: SEMI FINALS (LEG 2) (Friday 17th – Sunday 19th May 2024)
1st Place vs Lowest Place EF Winner (4th, 5th or 6th on ladder)
2nd Place vs Highest Place EF Winner Match (3rd, 4th or 5th on ladder)

WEEK 4: GRAND FINAL (Weekend of 24-26 May 2024)
SF winner v SF winner (Highest Placed Team is the Grand Final Host) 

Thanks for that anyway, at least gives me an idea of what days I need to take off for work 

I know this is getting ahead of ourselves, but we can open up a 6 point gap (albeit with CCM having a game in hand) at the top tomorrow, and if results go our way that could be a 9 point gap, with no games in hand, at the end of next weekend. Come on City and come on Phoenix!

Second that, the same scenario was just running through my head before I saw your post.

imanixsupporter

I know this is getting ahead of ourselves, but we can open up a 6 point gap (albeit with CCM having a game in hand) at the top tomorrow, and if results go our way that could be a 9 point gap, with no games in hand, at the end of next weekend. Come on City and come on Phoenix!

 Even going into the CCM game with a 3 point gap is huge means we only really need to draw and a win would probs seal the title.

If CCM lose to City in their next game and we beat them next weekend then I'd say we are premier's 

imanixsupporter

I know this is getting ahead of ourselves, but we can open up a 6 point gap (albeit with CCM having a game in hand) at the top tomorrow, and if results go our way that could be a 9 point gap, with no games in hand, at the end of next weekend. Come on City and come on Phoenix!

Even if we beat the Roar, they can still go top by winning their next two games (City/Phoenix). So the title race is still neck & neck, we at least still control our destiny. 

It's probably 11 years of season pass cynicism but I keep looking at who can catch us.

Come on you bloody Nix!

RR

imanixsupporter

I know this is getting ahead of ourselves, but we can open up a 6 point gap (albeit with CCM having a game in hand) at the top tomorrow, and if results go our way that could be a 9 point gap, with no games in hand, at the end of next weekend. Come on City and come on Phoenix!

Even if we beat the Roar, they can still go top by winning their next two games (City/Phoenix). So the title race is still neck & neck, we at least still control our destiny. 

True but their good run is fading. Our end of season run is just starting. 
I hope they give us a run for our money because I want the pressure on the boys to keep winning to the end of the season. 
I want the neagh sayers to know that they were fudgeing wrong. We are currently the best Nix ever. The best team that NZ has ever seen.

Just for context. 8 points from our last 5 games and we are guaranteed a top two finish.

Edit.
Make that 5 points from 4......

Ranix

Just for context. 8 points from our last 5 games and we are guaranteed a top two finish.

Yeh, nah.

There is only one position I want us to finish in.

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Looking ahead to finals.. the premiers race is relatively straight forward, we need more points than mariners.

But in the finals, I think of the current top 6 anyone could win. Victory, Sydney, Wanderers are all scary teams when they are at their best. I think this seasons finals series will be the most entertaining, potentially upsetting and interesting series we have had in a long time.

Statement of intent from sky stadium. Wellington food show moved to august due to potential home grand final for the Phoenix

Now we gotta get it!

Scenarios for us to win the league assuming the Mariners win their last 3 games after they play us:

- If we beat the Mariners, we’ll only need 4 points from our last 3 games

- If we draw, we need 7 points from our last 3 games 

- If we lose, we need all 9 points from our last 3 and the Mariners to drop points in at least 1 game

Friar Tuck

Scenarios for us to win the league assuming the Mariners win their last 3 games after they play us:

- If we beat the Mariners, we’ll only need 4 points from our last 3 games

- If we draw, we need 7 points from our last 3 games 

- If we lose, we need all 9 points from our last 3 and the Mariners to drop points in at least 1 game

I really can't see CCM drop points in their last 3 games. We need at least a draw on saturday. It's all in our hands, we'll need to come out all guns blazing

In terms of workload we have the advantage. Games on April 6th, 12th, 19th, and 27th to finish the season and while they are tough opponents (we have to play currently 2nd, 3rd, 11th, 4th) they are winnable.

Mariners in contrast play 5 games in 15 days to finish, starting next Saturday. Games on April 6th, then a hefty run on the 13th, 17th (AFC), 21st, 24th (AFC), and 27th. The trip to Kyrgyzstan is the 17th.

I can see them being gassed by the end, especially if the first AFC leg is a loss or draw and they're unable to rest players in the second leg to be ready for the league games.

mjp2

Ranix

Just for context. 8 points from our last 5 games and we are guaranteed a top two finish.

Yeh, nah.

There is only one position I want us to finish in.

 2nd will hurt more than last after this year :(