Steping Foward not Back

Shirts were flying! eventually...

Seeing the Glory retrurn to the Cake Tin was always going to be an entertaining contest. But this was no contest for the fan who craves to see the beautiful game at its best with a samba style of play rounded of with screaming shots and miraculaious saves. No this was anything but, this bare nosed struggle where each team was out for each other and combining that with some incompetency by the ref and some juvanile mistakes.

It ended up being not a bad watch on a sunday especially since the Black Caps were living up to there reputation of being able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Ill be the first to ommit that my call was far from off, but anything can happen on a windy day in Wellington.

Player of the day has to go to Ben Sigmund, not only for the header that let all of us breath a deep sigh of relief, but for the outstanding defensive display that he gave to the game, well done Ben. For anyone that didnt see the goal check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATAlwvoOT20

I think Sanchez, has already done enough to let the fans know that he is here. What is needed from him now though is to build on this. There have been many players such as Sanchez which have come into the Phoenix but yet fizzled out. Anyone Remember Dadi? What a start.. enough said. I think the fact Sanchez entrance has been a little bit more low key might help his rise. He looks like a player with a lot to give , Ricki let him give it!

Pavlovic, deserves a full 90 minutes, regardless of what happened at the end of the game. This was shown by yet another Cameo. I dont know about everybody else, but wouldnt mind a striker with a bit of a hot head, yes hes young and that was a stupid move but it still doesnt take it away that it was a good performance and I hope his silly mistake hasnt clouded that fact for Ricki.

All in all fantastic to get the three points and bring on the Roar I say, should be a good match to see weather we can keep the hurting Roar down at our most southern home.

Reinforcements will be needed with the opening of the window coming soon, this will need some discussion later this week. Expecting some news to come out Mid week...

I must say also that Warner had a good game with only one major fumble but still Paston needs to be given his chance

Have a good week

Mike

Shirts off in the final ten?

Here's to a weekend of shirts off. One tells me if definitely will be.












Seeing Vukovic and Smeltz return in Glory colours is going to be a hard pill to swallow, especially since former Phoenix have been making it a habit to come back to the cake tin and haunt us lately. My pick for this weekend though is a tight game, ending up though 3-1 ,with Ifill in the mix for a decent brace but it will be Tim the X-Man Brown who will be in for a flying second. Of course with Smeltz scoring the consolation. Just a hunch...

At the end of the weekend i will discuss

- Danni Sanchez, lets hope his niggle in practice doesn't stop him from making a worthy contribution

-Pavlovic, deserves a full 90 minutes so Ricki and the fans can see what he has to offer

- Reinforcements, Chris Killen has made some recent comments that deserve a bit of attention

Well done to the boys from Auckland City! Incredibly proud of the way your passing game really gave the Japanese Champs a lot of grief. Ivan still has it!

Enjoy the weekend of footie!

Mike

Not the Start we were all hoping for...

To the most passionate Wellington Phoenix football fan... this is for you, and Terry.

I will endeavour to share with you my experiences past and present and to give an insight that you might not see in a team that has given, and yet will keep on giving a nation and its adoring fans, the power to dream again. I would like to make the argument that if you wasn't for there success two season ago, we as a country would not of embrace South Africa 2010, The Warrios , The league , New Zealand 2011 itself.

On to the current state of affairs;

I was watching today's match against the Heart today and although yet the Away Curse seems to have struck again. I for one see many positives.. Like many people have I believe that Ifill's presence have resurrected the team psyche from a season where the bus did nothing but sit in front of goal. This has to by far most pleasing aspect from the past two games. With Ifill who somehow manages to hobble around on one leg darting in and around the defence, Durante and Herbert have found there catalyst to galvanise the team to have an attacking mantra. This may be overstating the results in the last couple of games. But all you yellow fever supporters know exactly what i mean. It has allowed Greenacre to pouch balls and concentrate about being in the right place at the right time, something which seems to flow much more naturally to him. While the from half of the field have been sorting itself out. Giving Durante and CO the chance to do what they have done best, block the bastards out! Again I know some of you might think I'm jumping the gun but wait and see..

Now something i must confess is my Liverpool Loyalties. This brings up my next point. Tony Warner vs Mark Paston. As a Goalkeeper myself this is a topic quite close to my heart. Warner has made quite an impression on Herbert, something tells me weather Mark has done something to deserve other wise?

Sure we have a reserve goal keeper for Liverpool but...., Paston is a iconic figure, who has not had the chance he deserves, has he ever been dropped for bad form? This is our number one people!!! I bring you back to 2010 a Italian shoots he " is denied" by who? I think the answer people are looking for is when did Warner block V. Iaquinta?

This is my only real grumble, to be honest the reason for this is I think Paston is one of my hero's , most goal keepers would agree, maybe even Warner. Must so though Warner keep up the good work!

Through this blog i will not only go through the rebirth of the Phoenix, All Whites but from time to time the ascendancy of Liverpool back to their rightful place back at the top of the EPL and also the trials and tribulations of the Red Barons, the most spirited Futsal team.

My last note for tonight is to comment on how much of a pleasure it was today to watch Ricki Herbert be able to use 3 attacking substitutions! He actually used two! I couldn't quite believe it, and yet i think this was further proof of there being better things to come.

Next week i will start to look over

- Sanchez, and what a player he is turning out to be.

- Pavlovic the potential shines with this lad

- Reinforcements: Although with the essential return from injury that we have enjoyed, the pressing need that we have to look at growth this summer and this does not mean long term. Looking at the potential All Whites that might come home soon.

Ta for now

O and notable mention! TIM BROWN what a Screamer!!

Mike