This is shaping up to be a cracker, Nix undefeated in 5 games vs Sydney on a 6 game winning streak.
Does Devlin retain his spot or does Rufer (if fit) come straight back in? Does Hooper start?
R11 vs Sydney FC | Sat 21st Dec | 4:45pm | RoF/SS7
Marinovich
Payne Taylor Devere Carcase
Rufer Devlin Steinmann
Davila
Hooper Ball
Piscopo, McCowatt and Sotorio to come on an run at a tired defence.
Carcace allowed to push further forward with the added ball winner in the middle.
Marinovich
Payne Taylor Devere Carcase
Rufer Devlin Steinmann
Davila
Hooper Ball
Piscopo, McCowatt and Sotorio to come on an run at a tired defence.
Carcace allowed to push further forward with the added ball winner in the middle.
not sure why we'd change the formation and tactics when we've been playing so well recently. Agree on the Cacace bit though, would be cool
Sotirio definitely a starter ahead of Hooper. He has been improving game by game and I do not see a reason to bench him. I see Hooper coming on in the second half as early as 60 minute.
Also, I am not sure about the wisdom of playing Rufer, Steinmann and Devlin together (no matter how good they are) since this is not a formation that we have practised or played to date.
all I want for Christmas is Gary hooper to start on Saturday haha, surely he is ready for a decent run? I reckon devlin should retain his spot if rufer is fit, can’t wait for Saturday COYN!!!
Saturday 5pm kickoff? No excuses for a low turnout.
Marinovic
Payne DeVere Taylor Cacace
Steinmann Devlin
McCowatt Davila Sotirio
Ball
Like to see McCowatt given another go and Devlin start again. Bring Hooper on at half time or 60 minutes
Marinovic
Payne DeVere Taylor Cacace
Steinmann Devlin
McCowatt Davila Sotirio
Ball
Like to see McCowatt given another go and Devlin start again. Bring Hooper on at half time or 60 minutes
McCowatt deserves another go, but would rather see this:
Marinovic
Payne DeVere Taylor Cacace
Steinmann Devlin
Davila Sotirio
Ball Hooper
It puts more pressure on Davila to defend, but I think he's getting on well with the physicality of the league now. Ball could also drop deeper in that formation with Davila operlapping if need be. The key is to get another goal-scorer as close as possible to Hooper at all times going forward.
mcCowatt was poor when he came on in the last game. He won't start.
Same formation as last week, but Hooper in attack instead of Sotirio, to give some extra edge from the start. Then get in the other well oiled players early on 2nd half according to score. We should have the depth and confidence to hold a result or to score some extra goal. This won't be easy for Sydney ;-)
Same formation as last week, but Hooper in attack instead of Sotirio, to give some extra edge from the start. Then get in the other well oiled players early on 2nd half according to score. We should have the depth and confidence to hold a result or to score some extra goal. This won't be easy for Sydney ;-)
Marinovic
Payne-De Vere-Taylor-Cacace
Devlin-Steinmann
Ball-Davila-Piscopo
Hooper
Saturday 5pm kickoff? No excuses for a low turnout.
NARRATOR: Many excuses were given for the low turnout.
Saturday 5pm kickoff? No excuses for a low turnout.
well except its the Saturday before christmas and lots of workplaces closing on the Friday
will be usual sized crowd of around 5-6k and everyone will look confused when they announce it as 8k
unlikely to be 0-0 so need to play someone who can score goals. Sotirio to get 1...need another.
mcCowatt was poor when he came on in the last game. He won't start.
Whisper it, but maybe he's been a wee bit disappointing so far. Understandable given the step up in level, but I thought he'd have been a goal threat given what a natural goal scorer he seems to be.
mcCowatt was poor when he came on in the last game. He won't start.
Whisper it, but maybe he's been a wee bit disappointing so far. Understandable given the step up in level, but I thought he'd have been a goal threat given what a natural goal scorer he seems to be.
Had a good game against ...Adelaide? Krishna took ages to get settled- McCowatt will settle too
mcCowatt was poor when he came on in the last game. He won't start.
Whisper it, but maybe he's been a wee bit disappointing so far. Understandable given the step up in level, but I thought he'd have been a goal threat given what a natural goal scorer he seems to be.
Had a good game against ...Adelaide? Krishna took ages to get settled- McCowatt will settle too
And it took an unbelievable save from Lopar to keep him from scoring v WSW. I think the guy is quality. Same as with Singh in his early Nix days it's swings and roundabouts, good and bad.
He clearly has the skill, physicality, fitness and attitude - now he has to develop his game through match experience.
mcCowatt was poor when he came on in the last game. He won't start.
Whisper it, but maybe he's been a wee bit disappointing so far. Understandable given the step up in level, but I thought he'd have been a goal threat given what a natural goal scorer he seems to be.
Had a good game against ...Adelaide? Krishna took ages to get settled- McCowatt will settle too
And it took an unbelievable save from Lopar to keep him from scoring v WSW. I think the guy is quality. Same as with Singh in his early Nix days it's swings and roundabouts, good and bad.
He clearly has the skill, physicality, fitness and attitude - now he has to develop his game through match experience.
mcCowatt was poor when he came on in the last game. He won't start.
Whisper it, but maybe he's been a wee bit disappointing so far.
At Eden Park, some guys behind me kept yelling "BRING ON MCCOWATT!!!
How would you all compare Waine vs McCowatt as an attacking option?
McCowatt>Waine espicially for starting
Marinovic
Payne DeVere Taylor Cacace
Steinmann Devlin
Davila Piscopo
Ball Hooper
Please.
would you guys rather hooper play first half or ball and joshy up front and he comes on at 60 min mark. I think joshys pace is pretty crucial for us with the way we have been playing.
would you guys rather hooper play first half or ball and joshy up front and he comes on at 60 min mark. I think joshys pace is pretty crucial for us with the way we have been playing.
I'll go with this option
and a special "this" just for your nickname.
I think it makes sense for Hooper to start and Jaush to come at the end to run against a tired defence, personally, but it's all down to Hooper's fitness.
Marinovic
Payne DeVere Taylor Cacace
Steinmann Devlin
Davila Piscopo
Ball Hooper
Please.
I don't think he'll do much of a job v Sydney; their defence is 10x better than the Vuc. I like him, but he's a one trick pony. Hooper would provide more, especially in the opening stages.
If we want to do more this season and evolve as a team, we need to create more chances - we're playing well with not much end result. Davila has been carrying the team on his back at times, which showed v the Victory when he didn't have a great game but still had our best chances (except for DeVere's header off a corner)
yeah, but it's been an important trick for us. Goals from open play have been Davila long shots or Sotirio in behind the defence or assisting from a counter. ( and one Ben Waine tap in).
Like it or not he's our second biggest goal threat right now.
I don't think he'll do much of a job v Sydney; their defence is 10x better than the Vuc. I like him, but he's a one trick pony. Hooper would provide more, especially in the opening stages.
If we want to do more this season and evolve as a team, we need to create more chances - we're playing well with not much end result. Davila has been carrying the team on his back at times, which showed v the Victory when he didn't have a great game but still had our best chances (except for DeVere's header off a corner)
yeah, but it's been an important trick for us. Goals from open play have been Davila long shots or Sotirio in behind the defence or assisting from a counter. ( and one Ben Waine tap in).
Like it or not he's our second biggest goal threat right now.
You're not wrong; I just think Hooper would be a bigger general threat with his link up play - something much harder to defend and plan for. We looked really predictable against Victory - full back passes over the top of a full back for Sotirio or Ball to run onto, we attempt to cross, cross is easily blocked, corner. Reckon that happened about 10 times.
yeah, but it's been an important trick for us. Goals from open play have been Davila long shots or Sotirio in behind the defence or assisting from a counter. ( and one Ben Waine tap in).
Like it or not he's our second biggest goal threat right now.
You're not wrong; I just think Hooper would be a bigger general threat with his link up play - something much harder to defend and plan for. We looked really predictable against Victory - full back passes over the top of a full back for Sotirio or Ball to run onto, we attempt to cross, cross is easily blocked, corner. Reckon that happened about 10 times.
That's a good reason to consider starting him. Thanks guys for pointing it out.
My own reading of the game against Victory was that Piscopo had a problem with his final touches while Sotirio and Davila were both marked well. But it could be that we were simply too predictable without a more creative player being free to move about and create spaces.
I thought Piscopo played well in the first half with good link up play but he faded as the game went on. Technically he looks very good, and I think he'll get better with more games..
Sotirio made some good runs in behind using his pace, but once he got in position his link up pass or cross were often blocked or off the mark. That hasn't changed and I'm not sure if it will.
If Hopper were to start I'd prefer to see Sotirio come off the bench later in the game. With a starting front line of
Hopper
Piscopo Davilla Ball
I'd be happy with either Piscopo or McCowatt starting.
Thought McCowatt looked a bit frustrated when he came on against Victory. He hasn't scored yet and it looks like its getting to him a bit. More composure needed.
yeah, but it's been an important trick for us. Goals from open play have been Davila long shots or Sotirio in behind the defence or assisting from a counter. ( and one Ben Waine tap in).
Like it or not he's our second biggest goal threat right now.
You're not wrong; I just think Hooper would be a bigger general threat with his link up play - something much harder to defend and plan for. We looked really predictable against Victory - full back passes over the top of a full back for Sotirio or Ball to run onto, we attempt to cross, cross is easily blocked, corner. Reckon that happened about 10 times.
That's a good reason to consider starting him. Thanks guys for pointing it out.
My own reading of the game against Victory was that Piscopo had a problem with his final touches while Sotirio and Davila were both marked well. But it could be that we were simply too predictable without a more creative player being free to move about and create spaces.
There were definitely issues with final touches but for me, our biggest issue was definitely that we were too predictable. That sort of play is pretty easy to defend.Ball and Hooper both look like they are really good at working in tight spaces; think both of them starting could take us to a different level.
Davila/Piscopo make sense as the playmakers - Davila more central, Piscopo drifting wide and linking.
Fingers crossed Hooper stays fit.
There were definitely issues with final touches but for me, our biggest issue was definitely that we were too predictable. That sort of play is pretty easy to defend.Ball and Hooper both look like they are really good at working in tight spaces; think both of them starting could take us to a different level.
Davila/Piscopo make sense as the playmakers - Davila more central, Piscopo drifting wide and linking.
Fingers crossed Hooper stays fit.
Fingers crossed Hooper gets fitter. Fixed for you
well if we're knocking it in to Hooper there needs to be a bunch of folk practicing the Nolan role
McCowatt>Waine espicially for starting
Waine has a greater goal threat
Referee: Chris Beath
Assistant Referee 1: Anton Shchetinin
Assistant Referee 2: Ashley Beecham
Fourth Official: Ben Abraham
VAR: Nick Waldron
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Stefan MARINOVIC (gk), 2.Liam McGING, 3.Luke DEVERE, 4.Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI, 5.Matti STEINMANN, 6.Tim PAYNE, 7.Reno PISCOPO, 8.Cameron DEVLIN, 9.David BALL, 10.Ulises DAVILA, 11.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 13.Liberato CACACE, 14.Alex RUFER, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21.Callum MCCOWATT, 23.Walter SCOTT, 27.Steven TAYLOR (c), 31.Ben WAINE, 32.Sam SUTTON, 88. Gary HOOPER **2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 14.Alex RUFER (return from injury), 23.Walter SCOTT (promoted), 32.Sam SUTTON (promoted)
Outs: None.
Unavailable: 16.Louis FENTON (shoulder - season)
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Patrick FLOTTMANN, 4.Alex WILKINSON (c), 5.Alex BAUMJOHANN, 6.Ryan McGOWAN, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.Adam LE FONDRE, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 16.Joel KING, 17.Anthony CACERES, 18.Luke IVANOVIC, 20.Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 21.Harry VAN DER SAAG, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.Marco TILIO, 25. Ryan TEAGUE, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27. Jordi SWIBEL. **2-4 to be omitted**
In: 25. Ryan TEAGUE (promoted), 27. Jordi SWIBEL (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 3.Ben WARLAND (ACL), 7. Michael ZULLO (calf), 13. Brandon O’NEILL (knee), 19. Chris ZUVELA (knee)
Im gonna go watch the new Star Wars movie then watch Hooper earn his pay packet by playing 20min.
Im gonna go watch the new Star Wars movie then watch Hooper earn his pay packet by playing 20min.
A fantasy fan, then?