Wellington Phoenix

@mikey07 said in Wellington Phoenix:

@bovidae I’m all honesty I would rather Hemed but unfortunately he wants to stay in Aus, Hooper when he was here didn’t seem interested hopefully with a pre-season under his belt he’ll be a lot fitter and gel a lot better.

'Uninterested' Hooper managed to average a goal or assist a game for the nix. He's probably a better player on paper but Hemed's form is pretty irresistible. If Devlin stays I'd be happy for them to keep both Hemed and Hooper, but if his rumoured departure is confirmed then we probably need a visa spot to replace him.

There are also rumours that we're negotiating with a potential Davila replacement. Talay has a fantastic recruitment record compared to most of our previous managers so I'm feeling optimistic that we can bring in someone good.

@cyclops said in Wellington Phoenix:

@mikey07 said in Wellington Phoenix:

@bovidae I’m all honesty I would rather Hemed but unfortunately he wants to stay in Aus, Hooper when he was here didn’t seem interested hopefully with a pre-season under his belt he’ll be a lot fitter and gel a lot better.

'Uninterested' Hooper managed to average a goal or assist a game for the nix. He's probably a better player on paper but Hemed's form is pretty irresistible. If Devlin stays I'd be happy for them to keep both Hemed and Hooper, but if his rumoured departure is confirmed then we probably need a visa spot to replace him.

On paper to real life is a lot different, saying that I’m optimistic with a full pre season under his belt.
As for a Devlin Newcastle are throwing mega $$ at him to get him so I’d say he’s good as gone, Steinmenn is a free agent

Fifteen years since he joined the Phoenix but still only 32 so hopefully he still has a bit of mileage left in his legs in what will probably be his last professional contract.

I can never feel the same after he walked out on the Nix after a year on his two year contract. Waste of a wage as I doubt he came cheap as far as I’m concerned he’s not the same blockbusting players as he was 5 years ago be better off giving the likes of Van Hattum or Bidois a full time contract.

@mikey07 said in Wellington Phoenix:

I can never feel the same after he walked out on the Nix after a year on his two year contract. Waste of a wage as I doubt he came cheap as far as I’m concerned he’s not the same blockbusting players as he was 5 years ago be better off giving the likes of Van Hattum or Bidois a full time contract.

Has to be a descendant of Frank?

@booboo Oskar van Hattum is Frank's nephew. He is a forward.

Couldn't find a more recent football/ A League thread:

Ufuk gooone. Can't begrudge him, he did a great job

Phoenix just beat Macarthur to go 5 points clear at the top of the A-League with 18 games played. Pretty awesome considering they were predicted wooden spooners at the beginning of the campaign.

That was a gutsy win with 5 starters out.

Yeah very gutsy. Excellent season so far.

The Phoenix fight to earn a draw in the first leg of the semis vs Melbourne, away at a place they rarely do well. The decider will be in Wellington in 6 days

@canefan expect a huge crowd at the Cake Tin for this, they deserve it and hope they win and get into the final.

If guilty, Lewis can kiss goodbye his professional career and won't play for the All Whites again.

Report I saw was they were given 10k$ for it, FFS, that's peanuts

Shocking non call by VAR, Phoenix should have a penalty

Jeez so many hollywoods

@Canes4life said in Wellington Phoenix:

Jeez so many hollywoods

Thats football

How can that Melbourne player not have a YC by now?

A cagey 1st half.

The Phoenix look dangerous on the break but need to be more clinical with their finishing.

VAR mulling over a Phoenix penalty shout that for me doesn't look like a pen.

Wow. Penalty given. Pretty unlucky for the Melbourne player, his arm was up but the ball hits his body first and ricocheted onto the arm

No more penalties for Rufer. Missed one to cost us the league trophy, now bottles one in the SF.

A screamer of a goal from the Melbourne defender Traore. Totally lucked it, first goal in 10 years. The desperation level has shot up now, assuming there is no away goals rule, we need a goal with about 6 minutes plus added time to go

O M G

Phoenix score with the final kick of regulation plus added time. Total speculator that reminds me of a Spurs goal in the UCL semi vs Ajax a few years ago. We will have extra time

@canefan Just when it looked like they were shepherding in another disappointment.

A very good goal, as well.

@Chris-B said in Wellington Phoenix:

@canefan Just when it looked like they were shepherding in another disappointment.

A very good goal, as well.

Cool finish by Ziwada, beautiful assist from Costa

Melbourne apparently took off a bunch of attacking players whereas the Phoenix have fresh attackers because they had to chase the game. Time to put them to the sword now

Ugh, we go down one again. Plenty of time to equalise

@canefan said in Wellington Phoenix:

Ugh, we go down one again. Plenty of time to equalise

A minute ago, they should have been taking it to the goal but were a little bit too timid and have paid the price.

@LABCAT said in Wellington Phoenix:

@canefan said in Wellington Phoenix:

Ugh, we go down one again. Plenty of time to equalise

A minute ago, they should have been taking it to the goal but were a little bit too timid and have paid the price.

Conceding from a set piece is a coach killer at this stage of the game

We are in panic mode. Ben Old still looks dangerous but we are running out of time

Overcooked corners...

Damn. Great season, just couldn't take the chances when they presented. Melbourne were very professional though, super solid

Alex Rufer's penalty taking confidence might be shot after two misses cost us a league trophy and a trip to the finals

@canefan

Mariners would still have finished ahead on the tiebreaker if Rufer Had buried the penalty against the jets, but who knows how the season changes.

I don't think there's anyone on the team that I'd be really confident lining up a penalty. More generally, I think our dead ball work is the area that we need to improve - I think 1 goal from a corner (and even that was second ball recycled on the edge of the area and a cracking shot) and 1 goal from a free kick (that one was a good one!).

Ecstasy and then agony. Poor defending from that corner. The Phoenix were unlucky with the Old shot hitting the post but these games are all about small margins.

Let's go CCM.