34' GOAL | Another attack from your #Nix ends with another great finish as Sotirio forces a good block from @wairarapaunited which lands at the feet of Devlin. He makes no mistake in volleying home to make it three.#StandUpWithYourNix #WAIvWEL ?(0-3)?
— Wellington Phoenix (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 24, 2019
PS v Wairarapa United | Wed 24 Jul | 5:30PM | Trusthouse Stadium, Masterton
23' GOAL! | ? Pick that one out! #Nix attacker, Davila receives the ball inside the box. Twisting and turning, he evades his marker and releases a sumptuous curling effort into the far corner. Un-saveable.#StandUpWithYourNix #WAIvWEL ?(0-2)?
— Wellington Phoenix (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 24, 2019
We're gunna win the league!
Something like this how we're lining up?
40' GOAL! | #Nix number 9⃣ gets involved in the scoring as Ball calmly slots in a loose ball inside the @wairarapaunited box.#StandUpWithYourNix #WAIvWEL ?(0-4)?
— Wellington Phoenix (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 24, 2019
Blimey. Perhaps they had better swap defences with Rapa at half time.
44' GOAL! | ? WOW. #Nix Ball matches Davila's earlier striker with a curling left footed shot of his own.#StandUpWithYourNix #WAIvWEL ?(0-5)?
— Wellington Phoenix (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 24, 2019
Blimey. Perhaps they had better swap defences with Rapa at half time.
Good signs that our front third can score, remember last year test match against TeeDubs? Burns butchered everything and Krishna and Williams looked already sharp.
Just two changes at halftime. Sail and Waine on for Marinovic and Ball.
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) July 24, 2019
McGing and Hudson-Wihongi replace Taylor and Devere. Taylor passes the armband to Rufer on his way off the pitch ?
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) July 24, 2019
59' GOAL! | #Nix Cacace gets on the end of a great pass from Sotirio to make it six!#StandUpWithYourNix #WAIvWEL ?(0-6)?
— Wellington Phoenix (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 24, 2019
60' GOAL! | #Nix attacker, Sotirio makes it two for him and extends the lead to seven after a Ben Waine shot rebounds off the post.#StandUpWithYourNix #WAIvWEL ?(0-7)?
— Wellington Phoenix (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 24, 2019
Four academy players + McCowatt and Scott getting a run now as Talay rings the changes. Scott goes to leftback with Stephen Sprowson at rightback. Sail gets the armband, but right now he probably is the most experienced player out there.
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) July 24, 2019
What position is McCowatt playing?
I hope some of our recent imports are not put off by the bus ride back over the Rimutakas tonight.
I went to the game so I'll share a bit of what I saw. Taylor wore the armband so looks like he's our captain. Rufer got it once he went off and Sail had it once the mass sub-on of all the young players happened. We played what looked like a 4-1-3-2 with Payne as a DM, Rufer as a box-to-box CM, Devlin and Davila out wide (these three were all quite fluid and moved around a lot) and Ball and Sotirio as strikers.
My thoughts:
* Ball is a lot better than people have assumed. I know the opposition was terrible, but his ball skills and poise were excellent. Bet a few men everytime he had the ball.
* Davila was impressive and should be a very very good player in the A-League.
* Sotirio was as advertised - big and fast but not the most skilled player in the world. Still a solid squady.
* Waine is already better than Sotirio, was unlucky not to score at least a couple, but did start forcing shots late in the game as he got frustrated. If he works a bit on his finishing, we could see him starting with Ball later this season.
* Walter Scott looked really good when he came on - right now looks like he should be our starting RB.
* Marinovic wasn't tested at all in the game so not much to say about him.
* Hudson-Wihongi was solid when he came on.
* Academy player Henry Hamilton was really impressive in the midfield when he came on.
* Payne solid but a bit slow on the ball.
* DeVere was a bit rusty, but that's to be expected.
* McCowatt played as a midfielder when he came on.
* Devlin incredibly disappointing. Seemed like he lost the ball everytime he got it and got bullied physically, at this point he's clearly not starting A-League level.. Looks like we need a visa midfielder if we want to be serious about contending this year.
I went to the game so I'll share a bit of what I saw. Taylor wore the armband so looks like he's our captain. Rufer got it once he went off and Sail had it once the mass sub-on of all the young players happened. We played what looked like a 4-1-3-2 with Payne as a DM, Rufer as a box-to-box CM, Devlin and Davila out wide (these three were all quite fluid and moved around a lot) and Ball and Sotirio as strikers.
My thoughts:
* Ball is a lot better than people have assumed. I know the opposition was terrible, but his ball skills and poise were excellent. Bet a few men everytime he had the ball.
* Davila was impressive and should be a very very good player in the A-League.
* Sotirio was as advertised - big and fast but not the most skilled player in the world. Still a solid squady.
* Waine is already better than Sotirio, was unlucky not to score at least a couple, but did start forcing shots late in the game as he got frustrated. If he works a bit on his finishing, we could see him starting with Ball later this season.
* Walter Scott looked really good when he came on - right now looks like he should be our starting RB.
* Marinovic wasn't tested at all in the game so not much to say about him.
* Hudson-Wihongi was solid when he came on.
* Academy player Henry Hamilton was really impressive in the midfield when he came on.
* Payne solid but a bit slow on the ball.
* DeVere was a bit rusty, but that's to be expected.
* McCowatt played as a midfielder when he came on.
* Devlin incredibly disappointing. Seemed like he lost the ball everytime he got it and got bullied physically, at this point he's clearly not starting A-League level.. Looks like we need a visa midfielder if we want to be serious about contending this year.
Thanks for the great summary for those of us that couldn't make it.
Quick question - I thought Scott a LB?
I went to the game so I'll share a bit of what I saw. Taylor wore the armband so looks like he's our captain. Rufer got it once he went off and Sail had it once the mass sub-on of all the young players happened. We played what looked like a 4-1-3-2 with Payne as a DM, Rufer as a box-to-box CM, Devlin and Davila out wide (these three were all quite fluid and moved around a lot) and Ball and Sotirio as strikers.
My thoughts:
* Ball is a lot better than people have assumed. I know the opposition was terrible, but his ball skills and poise were excellent. Bet a few men everytime he had the ball.
* Davila was impressive and should be a very very good player in the A-League.
* Sotirio was as advertised - big and fast but not the most skilled player in the world. Still a solid squady.
* Waine is already better than Sotirio, was unlucky not to score at least a couple, but did start forcing shots late in the game as he got frustrated. If he works a bit on his finishing, we could see him starting with Ball later this season.
* Walter Scott looked really good when he came on - right now looks like he should be our starting RB.
* Marinovic wasn't tested at all in the game so not much to say about him.
* Hudson-Wihongi was solid when he came on.
* Academy player Henry Hamilton was really impressive in the midfield when he came on.
* Payne solid but a bit slow on the ball.
* DeVere was a bit rusty, but that's to be expected.
* McCowatt played as a midfielder when he came on.
* Devlin incredibly disappointing. Seemed like he lost the ball everytime he got it and got bullied physically, at this point he's clearly not starting A-League level.. Looks like we need a visa midfielder if we want to be serious about contending this year.
Thanks for the great summary for those of us that couldn't make it.
Quick question - I thought Scott a LB?
He replaced Cacace so that might be his preference, but from what I've heard I think he can play on either side. To be honest I completely forgot Fenton was still on the team since it feels like we haven't seen him in forever so that could be an interesting battle when he comes back, but Scott is very Libby-esque and I think Ufuk will prefer that over Fenton in a back 4. Elliot was also decent but definitely looked like he benefited from playing a weaker team and is very much a Fenton type player.
I went to the game so I'll share a bit of what I saw. Taylor wore the armband so looks like he's our captain. Rufer got it once he went off and Sail had it once the mass sub-on of all the young players happened. We played what looked like a 4-1-3-2 with Payne as a DM, Rufer as a box-to-box CM, Devlin and Davila out wide (these three were all quite fluid and moved around a lot) and Ball and Sotirio as strikers.
My thoughts:
* Ball is a lot better than people have assumed. I know the opposition was terrible, but his ball skills and poise were excellent. Bet a few men everytime he had the ball.
* Davila was impressive and should be a very very good player in the A-League.
* Sotirio was as advertised - big and fast but not the most skilled player in the world. Still a solid squady.
* Waine is already better than Sotirio, was unlucky not to score at least a couple, but did start forcing shots late in the game as he got frustrated. If he works a bit on his finishing, we could see him starting with Ball later this season.
* Walter Scott looked really good when he came on - right now looks like he should be our starting RB.
* Marinovic wasn't tested at all in the game so not much to say about him.
* Hudson-Wihongi was solid when he came on.
* Academy player Henry Hamilton was really impressive in the midfield when he came on.
* Payne solid but a bit slow on the ball.
* DeVere was a bit rusty, but that's to be expected.
* McCowatt played as a midfielder when he came on.
* Devlin incredibly disappointing. Seemed like he lost the ball everytime he got it and got bullied physically, at this point he's clearly not starting A-League level.. Looks like we need a visa midfielder if we want to be serious about contending this year.
Thanks for the great summary for those of us that couldn't make it.
Quick question - I thought Scott a LB?
He replaced Cacace so that might be his preference, but from what I've heard I think he can play on either side. To be honest I completely forgot Fenton was still on the team since it feels like we haven't seen him in forever so that could be an interesting battle when he comes back, but Scott is very Libby-esque and I think Ufuk will prefer that over Fenton in a back 4. Elliot was also decent but definitely looked like he benefited from playing a weaker team and is very much a Fenton type player.
Interesting. I think that both Fenton and Elliot prefer to play further forward than right fullback, so will be interesting to see where they end up.
A bit shocked that both Rollo and Piney were impressed with Devlin. Maybe I'm being harsh, he did show flashes in dangerous areas, but he lost the ball way too much in the midfield against opponents who would be relegated from Central League in almost any other season.
A bit shocked that both Rollo and Piney were impressed with Devlin. Maybe I'm being harsh, he did show flashes in dangerous areas, but he lost the ball way too much in the midfield against opponents who would be relegated from Central League in almost any other season.
Maybe they meant Davila?
A bit shocked that both Rollo and Piney were impressed with Devlin. Maybe I'm being harsh, he did show flashes in dangerous areas, but he lost the ball way too much in the midfield against opponents who would be relegated from Central League in almost any other season.
Maybe they meant Davila?
At first I assumed that was the case, but this was Piney's tweet
Cheers for the opinions/match report - I reckon we are in dire need of an import midfielder. Not sure we'll get anyone better than Mandi, though with Rufer and Payne at the base we should probably be looking for an 8 instead of a 6.
I think we need to use our last 2 import slots on a creative midfielder and another quality option up front - either a winger or forward - to have a reasonable chance at making the playoffs this season
I think we need to use our last 2 import slots on a creative midfielder and another quality option up front - either a winger or forward - to have a reasonable chance at making the playoffs this season
Agree that we absolutely need an 8, but I reckon we can survive, maybe even do well, without another visa forward (assuming Ball and Davila are as good as I thought they looked tonight and Waine continues to develop). If I had my pick I might have a visa DM as the last import. Payne does a job but I feel like someone better than him could take us to the next level, with Payne being a very strong, versatile bench option.
I think we need to use our last 2 import slots on a creative midfielder and another quality option up front - either a winger or forward - to have a reasonable chance at making the playoffs this season
Agree that we absolutely need an 8, but I reckon we can survive, maybe even do well, without another visa forward (assuming Ball and Davila are as good as I thought they looked tonight and Waine continues to develop). If I had my pick I might have a visa DM as the last import. Payne does a job but I feel like someone better than him could take us to the next level, with Payne being a very strong, versatile bench option.
If we go with that would make us a really balanced team imo and probs would see us be quite good defensively compared to recent years which I think has held us back a lot, Just as long as Ball, McCowatt, Davilla and Waine can contribute with the goals we'd be pretty competitive.
Interesting McCowatt didn't play further up.
Interesting McCowatt didn't play further up.
How did he look?
Couldn't find another suitable thread - anyone know when the inter-team game is?
No other friendlies have been announced. We'll get another kickabout but with the FFA Cup in just under two weeks might be after that.
Couldn't find another suitable thread - anyone know when the inter-team game is?
No other friendlies have been announced. We'll get another kickabout but with the FFA Cup in just under two weeks might be after that.
We do always seem to struggle to find decent friendlies early on.
We do always seem to struggle to find decent friendlies early on.
As above nix plays Wests on Wednesday next week. 2pm endeavour park
As above nix plays Wests on Wednesday next week. 2pm endeavour park
Leeds or Wests, close call.
As above nix plays Wests on Wednesday next week. 2pm endeavour park
it's a public park that's not enclosed so yes
No lights at endeavour, and I guess the desire is to play on grass, not turf?
So can anyone confirm there is a game today at 2?