R13 vs Central Coast Mariners | Sat 12 Jan | 7.35pm | Westpac | #KidsGoFree

So with two milestones in this game, you can almost guarantee the Nix will lose. Durante will be playing in his 300th game, becoming the first A-League player to get to 300, then we also have a chance to break the record for most undefeated games. We have gone seven games undefeated three times now, in 2009/10, 2014/15 and currently. 

Add to the fact that CCM are shocking and we like to play teams back into forum, I for one will be putting money on CCM at the TAB.

If you still want to come, this game is also kids go free. So bring along the young ones to share in the passion!

It kinda has that feel about it, doesn't it?  We've been playing well and football fans get nervous!  I'm still confident of a win, but there is a fear lurking in my stomach, that's for sure.

Hoping to get a lot of my fiancee's family along as well as a guy who used to go to games back in the day here.  Got burnt and opted to stick with Liverpool (he's irish).  Hoping the fans and team turn on the style!

Will be interesting to see how we line up for this one mind.  A lot of suspensions but hopefully the depth we appear to have will mean the same desire is present.

Have some faith. This is a new nix. 3-0 win. Guaranteed. 

Don't jinx the anti-jinx.

CCM scored a couple of good goals v Sydney.

No Rufer or Mandi, so how will we adapt?

Surely will be a butters and kopa mid or maybe a formation change?? But can't really see the latter happening considering how we are currently going 

Confirm TAHW and play him along side Kopa? This of course counting on NZF getting the paperwork done in time.

Too defensive for my liking, reckon TAWH and Nichols or just Kopa and Nichols would be sweet. remember it IS the Mariners haha

Someone said on another thread that TAHW is injured?

Yeah done his calf, whoops

Could be, I don’t know if he is or isn

If you think the Mariners will be easy to beat you are very mistaken. Yes they aren't great but also not a walkover. They've been causing teams a lot of problems. Obviously Rudan knows that though. 

Didn't Dylan Fox play a CDM role in the FFA Cup game in pre season? Would he be better than Nichols?

Yes and from what I recall he was shocking.

Im really hoping the two central defensive mids do something this game. We struggle under a quick press because neither mid can make a pass or a forward run, teams are starting to realize how easy it is to pressure rufer & co into a poor pass. I also dont like the lack of press from our midfielders, standing back and giving others teams far too much room to pass is just asking for trouble and it also means the wingbacks are running more than they should. 

We play far better when our players make an effort to shut down the opponents. Not sure im completely convinced by Rudans defensive tactics, but hopefully this game might change my mind.

You must find the current run of results puzzling

Hasn't played all season though, I'd kinda like to see Burgess in the mid if we don't rest Singh even though hes quite attacking could backfire but CCM might also not be able to handle the attacking threat with Burgess, Singh, Krishna

Unless Rudes is comfortable with Burgess/Singh playing a bit deeper, I imagine this will be a precious chance for Nichols to stake a claim for a bigger role.

I had been thinking this a little, but was good to see Rufer trying to get forward more last night. That little combination on the edge of the box with one of the forwards was fantastic. Both he and Mandi appear to have the skills for it at least. 

I see this CCM game as a bit of a grind-out-a-result as we're missing our usual midfield. 

I expect not to lose, but I might be satisfied with a point depending on how it unfolds i.e. if CCM play really well

So if we're gonna start Sheridan, who drops out? 

That's a hell of a call to make... 

Krishna, Williams and Singh have all done really well, but Sheridan's quality is obvious. 

Can't really take Singh out or we lose the link with our midfield. 

Dropping Krishna is unthinkable, leaving Williams the odd one out? That doesn't seem right either...

don't think you'll see Cillian start this weekend, Rudes will start the same lineup minus the bans with Cillian coming on around the 60th minute

Ugly wins and draws are fine, just a bit worried as the team is playing a similar style to the opening rounds and not as they did against Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne. I dont think its going to take long for the better teams to see that they can exploit our wings and midfield area.

Sheridan adds some much needed muscle and height to the front 3, id like to see him wear down defenders and maybe a fresh Williams could come on at 65-70th minute to add energy. Wouldnt mind seeing him start.

Is Sheridan a genuine 9, so does it change the shape up top to introduce him?

Doesn't appear to be. Was playing LW in Poland and he seems to be quite mobile. Hvaing said that, he does seem to hold the ball up well. Which I reckon would fit in well with a front 2 that we've been playing. 

This was my takeaway from that cameo last night too, appears very mobile, and skilful. 

I'm thinking Williams on the bench (if not against CCM then the game after that) might be perfect for the team given the energy he can bring from there, even if it is a bit harsh on him. 

Burns is the big loser out of all this. I wouldn't have him on the bench ahead of Burgess at the moment. 

Our strongest team when all fit, and bans served?

Based on this discussion my preference would probably be:

                  Kurto

     Taylor Durante Doyle

Fenton Mandi Rufer Cacace

                 Singh

        Krishna Sheridan

Bench: Sail, Kopczynski, Nichols, Burgess, Williams

Yea. Great now we have options to chop & change the front 3

I am puzzled that we would nominate Sheridan already after 20 min of play, and leave Williams out when he has morphed into a good striker. For the same reason I would not put Nicholls in there but rather Lowry as a sub for Fenton (no cover for Louie otherwise)

So who replaces Rufer?? Butters or the other guy?.

You can't cover 11 positions. I think we have enough flexibility in guys like Cacace and Doyle, or even Taylor, to cover both fullback roles in a time of need. Whomever you put on the bench, you will leave yourself short somewhere, that's just the way it is with only 4 outfield subs. 

Yes a good point about Williams, very harsh on him, but I'm assuming at this point that the 20 minutes we got from Sheridan is what we're going to get moving forward. Perhaps not an assist and a "pre-assist" every 20 minutes, but hopefully that level of quality. If we do get that, then he's a nailed on starter for sure. 

Sorry this is technically off-topic I suppose. 

Who do we start in midfield this week? Kopa/Nichols?

If we keep the 3-5-2 formation, there is only a couple options available to Rudan, Kopa/Butters or Kopa/Libby. As much as I would like to see Libby given a go in the DM role, there is no attacking intent in that pairing so it really needs to be Kopa/Butters.

I think having Sheridan central and doing the big man work gives Rudes options with rotations (cards) and allows for Burns & Williams to be used in more natural wide position where they are best served. Note even Williams 2 beauties have commenced from wide.

Roy running off the big man centrally as he can usually finish from a central point unlike the others. Sarpreet in behind the big guy.

Hopefully we can crack the 10k attendance figure for once! Will be helped by NZ media actually giving phoenix positive media coverage from the last few games. If every member brought one friend each, certainly wouldn't hurt.

I see what you're getting at, but Burns is more useless than normal out wide and Williams started from a central position for both his goals - sure they were struck from out near the corner of the 18 yard box but at no time was he anywhere near the sideline. I can't see Rudan making any major adjustments to the formation, but will be interesting to see.

I think you are right on the money there. Nicholls is far more positive on the ball (at least used to be at his previous clubs) while Kopa is naturally more defensive anyway.  And if Nicholls cannot put in a good shift against CCM what hope is there for him?  

Would not mind seeing Burns given a start against CCM to blow out some cobwebs and for Sheridan to either start, or to come in for the second half. This would also give a chance for either Singh or Roy to also have a shorter shift against CCM and avoid burnout against Victory a week later.

Agree with all of that, but unfortunately they are mutually exclusive ideas - we can play with natural wingers, OR we can play Sheridan/Krishna with Singh in behind, but not both. 

Big crowd on Saturday, weather dependent? The positivity in the Stuff comment section on the Nix is mind-bending. It's like I'm reading the news in an alternative universe.

Looking decent atm

I've been thinking the same, actually. I was hoping we were reverting to the more defensive version of Rudan's tactics because we were away from home and pretty leggy.

Yes, we've had a run of good results, but you can be happy with that and still think we can improve.

I think it's been obvious over the last couple of games that we've gone long more often and have stopped playing through the lines as much - though that may be a result of Kop not being at CB anymore and Doyle being more of a hoofer; long ball make work fine for us if Sheridan is as good in the air as he seems, though.

My team for this game;

      Kurto

Taylor Durante Doyle

Fenton Kopy Butters Cacace

Singh

Krishna Sheridan

Harsh on Williams, and I'm a big fan of his; but I just think he's a bit too similar to Krishna. Sheridan offers something different, and since we are going long quite often (basically every goal kick goes long), it makes sense to have Sheridan challenging for balls rather than Krishna.