R19 vs Melbourne Victory | Fri 15 Feb | 7.35pm | Eden Park | Morningside Tavern

Mandi gets asked to do a load of work in the midfield (along side Rufer) he's always going to run out of gas. Plus he has a newborn in the house this week, He's not playing 90' this season now. 

think you are being rather harsh. I think he's done pretty well over all games considering. Krishna is head hunted by other other clubs, but a great striker would have got three tonight. He had a tap in in the first half, and used the wrong foot. When Williams set him up in the 2nd haldlf, yeah, keeper did well but that's where a striker earns their coin. 

For me that's going a little too easy on him. If an 18 yr old Cacace can motor up and down that wing for 90+ minutes then I question why an experienced import like Mandi has gone back into early season habits of running out of gas at the 80 minute mark. And I know that makes me sound like a callous bastard considering he's a new Dad but lots of pro footballers manage the same situation yet still maintain their fitness. 

He's definitely not a bad player but I'm feeling like he isn't quite as good as we need in that midfield.

Thought Mandi started off very well but faded in and out. See a lot of disdain for him on this forum but I think he's an excellent player, wasn't incredible today but wasn't bad by any means either. Same with Singh

Yes but these pro footballers may have in-laws just around the corner.  Unless Mandi and his wife have extended family staying with them now to help, it is simply tough. 

My wife and I brought up twins on our own while none of our parents (both sets in Europe) were able to assist and it was not as easy as I expected it either :-)

we look alot better with mandi, simply because we have no one else. think Paracki would have done a decent service in this setup. 

jeez its weird going over the last 5 or so pages, was at the game and thoroughly enjoyed it. at E.P it felt like phoenix dominated. not the greatest game but exciting.

I think it's a lot easier to be a young player in wider positions, the sideline is a lot friendlier than experienced opposition trying to take you out of the game. I think the reason young midfield players start strong but fade is because at some point they become specifically targetted by the opposition. Happened to Antonis, Pet Rat etc... but they get through it with game time and backing from a good coach.

I also think he's a very good player and if he had a better engine and slightly better mobility he wouldn't be playing in the A-League for sure.

I don't think I've ever seen a slower player, honestly. I'd like to see a foot race between him and Lia. He usually overcomes that by really smart incisive passing, but when he doesn't have that (as tonight, when he dallied on it way too long constantly), he becomes kind of ineffective.

The crowd numbers up on the score board were not the same as per other media. I wonder which one is fact. Still, a brilliant turn out by the locals. The Nix should have learned two things from this. Winning attracts a crowd. And never ever have another game at QBE. I thoroughly enjoyed today. Both sets of fans were friendly.  Some people got a taste of life in the zone whether they liked it or not. Including the couple who spoke constantly in their native tongue throughout the halfthey stayed there. And why do people want to be seen in the zone and sit down? The rules are clear. Posters were everywhere and the ground announcers aid it on a regular basis. Some people just don't listen.

Nothing but praise for Auckland today. Except -at the International Air Terminal,  they have removed my favourite sleeping or movie possie.  The carpeted observation area.  I used to love watching the planes taking off or land or doze. Carpet was warm,  but tiles are not. I miss watching those planes mostly. 

I haven't  enjoyed Auckland as much for a long time, except perhaps the Mt Smart game.

Ps - Hardnews,  excellent tee shirt sir, I'm thinking of collecting different colours despite someone not on this forum thinking it's not cool unless it is yellow and black. Call the frigging fashion police.

The guy down the back who was complaining about the Chilean lads waving the flag was a bell end. 

Pleasure meeting you yesterday Andy and Tracey ?

They were a little annoying when trying to watch the game tho.

Firstly its up the back at a stadium, secondly  this bellend is a season ticket  holder who has traveled from Wellington with his two daughters also season ticket holders, and the rules with the flags are before the game half time and full time, not during the game, the fact that TT made a friend last night has nothing to do with it , I wasn't the only one asking for the flag to be lowered maybe the most vocal being a season ticket your lack of respect for others is disappointing to say the least.

Also not happy you have brought it up on here and not sure if you are Brendan but either way the sexual innuendo he used toward my 17year old daughter when her and her sister had asked to wave the flag BEFORE THE GAME  is not how a 60 yearold man should talk to young girls.

you can dig away at me  i won't commen t on this thread again. 

I'm not Brendan (no idea who he is), nor did I have anything to do with the lads waving the flag and saying anything like that to anyone is bullshark and I'm sorry your daughter went through that. 

He’d be one of the first I’d sign up. He’s been given very little opportunity but has shown many glimpses of what might be possible with a slight change of playing style, and having tactical options is very important. 

I think some perspective is required here as well. I have not missed a home or TV game since day one and I may be totally deluded but to me this is the best line up the Phoenix have had and they are playing some sparkling football in a much improved competition. The fact that a few players have some weaknesses and the team has not yet been able to sustain a high level performance for 90 minutes should not detract from the big picture.

spot on

Really, WATP as a username? 

Seems like a reasonable thing to ask though (re: the flags). The signs are clear enough, unfortunately I guess that's always going to happen when you have a big crowd though, not everyone is going to be happy.  Hope your families experiences it didnt ruin your night for you all. The latter being out of order.

On the game, looked like a decent enough game, superb effort from the club and fans to get a crowd as big as they did.  A draw seemed like a fair result, albeit not what we wanted given the Jets result.  Both teams had chances to win it, who knows what could have been had the second Krishna effort gone in.

Hopefully the club build on this, show what NZ football could be like given the right level of profile. I'll continue to do my bit and encourage work colleagues and family to go. 

I would like to declare the Zone a success last night. 

A combination of things came together and appeared to have the desired result. The programme, the posters, the big screen announcements and a friendly approach to the confused people coming in to look for their seats. I spoke to quite a few people to explain the zone is basically a free for all and people wouldn't be in their seats. Also I think letting them know that they were welcome to stay and join us but if they really weren't comfortable we could get them tickets to another area was a good approach. Most of the peeps I spoke to actually stayed and had a great time. Especially the four people stood just in front of me. They seemed to have an absolute blast.

I'm sure there'll be a few people on here who will disagree with my assessment but oh well.

I also put faces to forum names and i love that the YF brings people together like that.

Oli Sail was absolutely incredible with the young fans, such a role model. Made sure every single kid could get to the front of the stands safely so he could sign their things, really kind words to all of them

Well done Tracy and Co for putting in the effort. Could be easy to not do anything about it, and be disappointed with it after. Good on you for being active and making sure it was a success.

Totally agree.

I'd play a 4-3-3.

Two buns are better than one.

Whats wrong with WATP, if its racist i can change it. Flags disappointing TT know the rules and  if they decide to give a flag to a stranger then explain the rules.Been a season ticket holder for five years love going to the games and supporting the boys. really enjoying this season and hope MR sticks round for at least one more, seeing him give these young lads a run is brilliant and sets the club up for the next few years

Went to the game, here my thoughts 

Libby was the standout performer imo. His first touch is brilliant, up and down the flank all night long. Brilliant. I really hope we can keep him on our books for as long as possible with performances like these.

Steven Taylor - Was he not 100%? I say this because he was limping and look knackered ALOT. THAT being said, I thought he was our second best outfield player. How many good tackles did he make? Was at the centre of EVERY corner we had too and generally won.

Kurto - With less than a season at the Nix, I'd have him as the best keeper we've ever had. This guy just keeps on impressing me. 

Singh always surprised me at how well he seems to do, his passes are usually very crisp and accurate. He looks like a kid playing amongst men (and I guess he kind of is really) but he doesn't look out of his depth. Him and Libby have very bright futures

Sub bench use was fairly predictable - The Sheridan for Williams seems to be pretty standard and Mandy looked shot. 

Crowd numbers were great, and everyone from what I saw was well behaved. Thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I actually thought we were lucky to escape with a point. Once Honda came on, the Victory looked so much better. He was so cool under pressure, and lived upto his name/hype. I felt they seemed to create more danger and by in large looked more threatening (probably not a popular opinion, but that's what is it....an opinion) 

The trains getting back out West were TERRIBLE. I felt a bit sorry for one of the AT workers at ground level who obviously had no authority over the train timetables, but she copped an absolute earful, as did one of the train drivers when it arrived full of people from the lantern fesitval

The people who need an earful are Nix management, who did not arrange any extra trains/buses. Such things don't happen automatically.

agree. Sheridan would be the first forward I started. Scored no goals? How many minutes has he played? How many certain goals has Krishna Fenton and Williams missed? How many times has he set up players going through? Disappointing no one even shoots. Gretzky. You miss 100 per cent of the shots you never take. Not sure which person above said he would struggle to give him a contract, but whoever you are, not sure if you understand the game. He will be snapped up next year by an Auz club and come back to haunt us. 

Oh really? Should they build Auckland's light rail while they are at it?

Eden Park Officials need an earful its there ground. 

Auckland Transport made it clear that they would have been keen to put on free/extra buses and trains if anyone from the Nix had asked them to.

Holy crap, this has got to be the most depressing rave review I've ever read.

Just gotta shake your head how some people think that their opinion really matters or 8s even wanted. By his own admission he has barely watched the Nix so how he thinks his thoughts matter beggar belief.

Cacace putting Honda on his arse is the highlight of the season.

Been looking for this! Cheers

Crowd at the Blues v Crusaders looks and sounds pathetic confirmed to the Nix

Who the fudge is Alex Braae? I've seen better write ups scrawled on the toilet doors down the pub...

great but still the 2 ball throw in.........

I think a fan called up to ask about transport and was told event organisers had to request extra transport. Maybe there was a cost and the deadline was well before they could guarantee a number north of 20k

Random blogger who has been a super casual football punter excited and interested enough by team form to get along and write it up? That's a win.

Gotta welcome people to the fold rather than be hipster about it. His knowledge about the Nix is the headline stuff- and lets be honest we have a mixed history and a lot of kicking from Stuff/TVNZ etc when we're down.

Re-read it- that impending doom line is some BS. More like we have to fight for anything and everything we get. But the above isnt too bad from a media model with limited stylistic credibility, an often morally compromised business model and a goldfish bowl turnover.

Plus I think their offices are right next to your Morningside Tavern.