Talking Up Wellington Phoenix A League 2017/18

I will be doing an update here with results as they come in. White Text Black Backround (Like This)

Are the Nix about to turn around recent poor performances - new players, new manager and seemingly a better drilled side going forward??

Well possibly!!

Hard to see how other teams stack up but to be fair all teams start with a clean slate and the first 10 games of the season will determine how all teams do indeed stack up.

Last year the first 10 games for the Nix were 5 home and 5 away.  The same applies to this season (see draw below)  I'm guessing we might just have a great start to the season (Nix need to keep a clean sheet at home - including no losses) That's a mental hurdle they have to get over and if Darije Kalezić can do that yes awesome turnaround.

The biggest hurdle the Nix need to hurdle is their poor performances in the midfield.  Last year (and years before) the back three/four have been under a lot of pressure due to turnovers in the wrong end of the paddock and also the forwards have lacked quality through balls, largely feeding off long ball attacks from the back.  I'd just love to see them getting good ball and using that ball instead of gifting it to the opposition.

Draw (10 rounds.)

Rnd 1  8 Oct  Home to Adelaide  Drawn 1-1 (Dario Videsic 5')
Rnd 2  13 Oct Away to Sydney FC  Loss Away 2-3 Videsic 44' & Kaluderovic  60'
Rnd 3 21 Oct  Away to Melbourne FC  1-nil loss to MCFC Nix 8th  MCFC are 1st on ladder
Rnd 4  28 Oct  Home to Brisbane Roar  Roar are last Nix should win 2-0 or 3-1Andrija Kaludjerovic 1' 20', Roy Krishna 18'
Rnd 5  4 Nov  Away to Newcastle Jets  Jets are now 3rd. Nix goaless
Rnd 6  12 Nov  Home to Perth Glory  Glory are 6th (one ahead of Nix)
Rnd 7  18 Nov  Away to West Sydney Wanderers WSW are currently 3rd
Rnd 8  25 Nov  Home to Central Coast Mariners  CCM are placed 9th
Rnd 9  3 Dec  Home to Melbourne Victory  Victory are 7th.
Rnd 10  9 Dec Away to Brisbane Roar.  Roar are still tailgunners - 10th.

So far I like what I see. Although no win as yet but there is huge promise.

I love my sport.  I follow the Nix because they are our team. I may not be a true YF supporter and football savvy participant but in spirit I want them to win something.  The targets need to be realistic - win and draw and settle on a top 6 after 10 rounds.  Not too much to ask it is it??

FIFA World Cup - a summary

Well it's fair to say the World Rankings are quite accurate when it comes to Football, especially given the results of the recent World Cup.  So I decided to analyse rankings and placings and provide some insight.

Below is a list of teams as ranked in top 16 (unless otherwise stated) on 5th June 2014 before the WC.  Alongside is where they managed to get in the Cup.



1. Spain  Didn't make it out of group.
2. Germany  Won the final.
3. Brazil  4th
4. Portugal   Didn't make it out of group.
5. Argentina  2nd
6. Switzerland   Last 16 no further.
7. Uruguay  Last 16 no further.
8. Colombia  Quarterfinals no further.
9. Italy   Didn't make it out of group.
10. England   Didn't make it out of group.
11. Belgium  Quarterfinals no further.
12. Greece  Last 16 no further
13. USA Last 16 no further
14. Chile  Last 16 no further
15. Netherlands  3rd
16 Ukraine (failed to qualify)

17.  France Qualified and last 16 no further.
20.  Mexico  Qualified and last 16 no further.
22.  Algeria  Qualified and last 16 no further.
28.  Costa Rica Qualified and last 16 no further.
44.  Nigeria  Qualified and last 16 no further.

So it's very good to see most of the top ranked 16 teams made the last 16, with the obvious exceptions of England, Spain (reigning World Champs), Portugal and Italy (Interesting also that three of those countries are considered the hotbeds for club football in the world.)

As usual World Cups of any sporting code throw up surprises and the last five teams mentioned separately above certainly surprised, none more so than Nigeria, the only team making the last 16 outside the top 32 ranked teams in the world.

The rankings do match current achievements though the demise of Spain and Portugal especially will be interesting to see when the new rankings come out.  On paper then it was no surprise Germany won, Brazil and Argentina made the final four, leaving the only real surprise being the Netherlands finishing 3rd.

Great World Cup?  Maybe, maybe not.  Certainly a spectacle that provided high drama, dubious officiating, and that burgeoning Hollywooding, but yes I enjoyed what I saw and I saw plenty (thanks to time zones being in synch for once).  Bring on 2018.