With 15 games gone this A-League season, here's my mid-season report on the Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington Phoenix general manager David Dome would love to bring an English Premier League club to New Zealand next pre-season but says contrary to reports no fixtures have been confirmed.
You can, it seems, teach an old dog new tricks.
Wellington Phoenix's Albert Riera has made such an impact in the A-League that the Spaniard who went to New Zealand on a working holiday has become one of the finest midfielders in the competition.
During a goal-scoring drought, which dates back to November 4, Wellington Phoenix striker Jeremy Brockie had tried most things to bring on a flood.
Happy but nowhere near content.
Waitakere United slipped to their lowest ASB Premiership league position in over nine years after suffering their third consecutive loss today to Team Wellington.
When the Wellington Phoenix were battling through a dire start to the season under new coach Ernie Merrick it would have been easy for people to wonder whether the club had made the right decision to hire the Scotsman.
Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick has hailed an all-round team performance following his side's 5-0 demolition of Melbourne Victory in Wellington last night.
These are not your father's Phoenix.
You will have a good read on how far this Wellington Phoenix have come in the past month based on how they fare against the Melbourne Victory at the Cake Tin tonight.
If you stand back and admire the quality of Melbourne Victory's play, you'll be congratulating them on a good win 90 minutes later.
Watching from afar, you started to wonder when the Wellington Phoenix would win a game this A-League season.
Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick is banking on a settled squad to continue his team’s unbeaten run when they play Melbourne Victory at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night.
Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick has made a decision on whether he will start Tyler Boyd ahead of Jeremy Brockie against the Melbourne Victory at the Cake Tin tomorrow night, he just isn't going to reveal which way he is leaning until tomorrow.
When New Zealand Football this week walloped ASB Premiership title contenders Hawke's Bay United with a $2000 fine and docked them of three competition points following an administrative cock-up with a player transfer, it was an occurrence of some note.
New Zealand's Peter O'Leary will officiate at his second straight Fifa World Cup in Brazil, after being named on the 25-referee panel today.
It's turning out to be some visit for Albert Riera.
Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick has continued his planning for next season with the announcement today that Spanish midfielder Albert Riera and defender Michael Boxall have had their contracts extended by a year.
Dual passport holder Tyler Boyd is keeping his options open as he weighs up whether to make himself available for the All Whites or the United States.
Goalkeeper Lewis Italiano hasn’t appeared in an A-League game for the Wellington Phoenix since joining the club, but has shown enough in training and “A” team games to earn another contract.
Michael Boxall was given a pass mark for his first effort as the new Phoenix right back undergoes a crash course in playing the position.
The Central Coast Mariners brought the Wellington Phoenix’ winning run to an end with a 1-1 draw at Westpac Stadium on Sunday night but coach Ernie Merrick remained upbeat.
There is now a three-way tie for first place while previous league leaders and defending champions Waitakere United have dropped to fourth following the first round of ASB Premiership action since the festive period.
Team Wellington's struggles against Auckland City continue as the Matt Calcott-coached side fell to a 3-2 national league loss at Kiwitea St yesterday.
Try as they may, the Phoenix just can't break those pesky Mariners.
The winning streak of the Wellington Phoenix last night came to an end, held to a 1-1 draw at home by the Central Coast Mariners.
Waitakere United were yesterday on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets in ASB Premiership soccer history, being upended 3-1 at home by the struggling Southern United.
A missed penalty from Central Coast Mariners striker Daniel McBreen handed the Wellington Phoenix a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Westpac Stadium on Sunday.
Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante is reluctant to look further ahead than Sunday’s game against Central Coast Mariners at Westpac Stadium but is confident the future is bright.
Danny Hay says Ernie [Sic] Merrick's version of the Phoenix provides renewed hope that we are finally getting it right with our A-League franchise.
It is not surprising that Michael Boxall isn't counting his chickens just yet.
Stein Huysegems is shaping up as the best Belgian import to these shores since waffles, craft beer and moules frites (mussels and chips).
Could a goalkeeper really be playing centre half when Southern United plays Waitakere tomorrow in an ASB Premiership football match in Auckland?
Stein Huysegems is the man of the moment for the Wellington Phoenix, his goals and one assist putting the A-league club on a three game winning streak after a poor start to the A-league season.