Couldn't find a more recent football/ A League thread:
1 month later
Ufuk gooone. Can't begrudge him, he did a great job
10 months later
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.
2 months later
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
If guilty, Lewis can kiss goodbye his professional career and won't play for the All Whites again.
A cagey 1st half.
The Phoenix look dangerous on the break but need to be more clinical with their finishing.
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
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
@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
@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
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
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.
@Bovidae said in Wellington Phoenix:
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.
Kraev's header wide of goal hurt too, he should have at least got that on target
@Bovidae said in Wellington Phoenix:
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.
I was at the game, and the moment that goal went in was the biggest release of emotion by a crowd I've ever experienced. Just a sensational feeling to be in amongst it. I wasn't at the last sold out playoff back in the Herbert era, but I've been to other playoffs and other big crowds (both Phoenix and other sports, caketin and other stadiums). Even though we lost, still makes me smile just thinking about it.
@Cyclops said in Wellington Phoenix:
I was at the game, and the moment that goal went in was the biggest release of emotion by a crowd I've ever experienced. Just a sensational feeling to be in amongst it.
I was there, and at that end of the stadium, for Rory Fallon's goal against Bahrain, so I know the feeling.
@Canes4life said in Wellington Phoenix:
The biggest disappointment was Tim Payne for me. Learn how to cross a ball bud.
Right hand side attack was ineffectual
11 days later
Wellington Phoenix keeper Alex Paulsen is on the verge of a career-defining move to the English Premier League in a deal worth more than $4 million.
The 21-year-old shot stopper was reportedly a target for Chelsea and Liverpool but could be heading to Bournemouth, according to the UK’s Sky Sports.
Bournemouth’s bid was reportedly worth £850,000 (NZ$1.77m) and could rise to £2 million (NZ$4.2m) with bonuses. It’s the sort of deal neither the Phoenix nor Paulsen can turn down.
There are a couple of humorous comments about Bournemouth loaning Paulsen back to Auckland FC. They have just signed Woud so I doubt it. A great move for Paulsen if it goes through, and some money for the Phoenix.