January 5, 2026 • 41 mins
Jason Pine and Michael Burgess review the latest A-League matches for Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC.
The Phoenix men produce one of their all-time great away performances to beat Brisbane 3-0 and reinvigorate their season.
Meanwhile the Phoenix women find a stoppage time equaliser to draw 2-2 with the Roar.
And Auckland FC share the points with Macarthur in the middle of a busy period for the reigning Premiers.
Football Fever is your podcast to follow the beautiful game in New Zealand.
New episodes every week!
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Football Fever, the podcast keeping you up to date with
the beautiful game with the voice of football Jason Paine
and Zen Heralds Makeel Burgess, powered by News Talks Hebby.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hi, there, Welcome into Football Fever as we review another
three games involving the three New Zealand teams in the
A Leagues the men's and women's competition. I'm Jason Pinemichael
Burgess us here, Burge. I'm not quite sure how you
are fitting everything in at the moment. You're at the tennis,
you're covering the football, you're probably doing some rugby league
preview stories. It's amazing you found time for the Football
(00:35):
Fever audience.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
It's a brilliant time of year. Though I do love
the tennis, but I love all this football happening too.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
All right, isn't it just all right? Let's get straight
into it with Saturday's doubleheader at Redcloffe. Actually, can we
start with the venue, Burge? How good did it look there?
You think about sun Corpse Stadium and those rows and
rows of seats with nobody sitting in them, and then
you think about Sky Stadium in Wellington in the same situation.
(01:03):
Is that a model for what the A League should
be looking to do in terms of venue type and
venue size.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Oh, it's the future, It's absolutely the future. It's perfect.
Go media works pretty well, but far out that because
remember that stadium was where the Warriors played during their
COVID right COVID were marooned, they played there and then
it became Redcliff's Home of the Dolphins. Sorry, beautiful, perfect size,
(01:31):
the crowd's so close. It was just a rollicking atmosphere.
And you really hope one day there's some angel investor
that comes along and wants to build something like that,
and Wellington be perfect for the Phoenix and the Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Wouldn't it absolutely right? Yeah, like a ten to twelve
to fifteen thousand seat stadium rectangular with a crowd as
nice and close. It reminded me actually the days I
think we might have talked about this on a previous
episode when the Phoenix had to go out to the
hut Wreck. It was during the twenty fifteen Cricket World
Cup and obviously Sky Stadium being used for the cricket
so the Phoenix went out to the hut Wreck and
(02:05):
that's nowhere near the size of Kaya Stadium. It holds
I think four or five thousand. But the intimacy of
it and the experience for the fans and I'm sure
for the players too. As you say, Burget, the A
League can't at the moment be played in these cavernous stadiums.
It has to it has to be smaller venues where
the atmosphere is. Like we saw it at Reecliffe on
(02:25):
the weekend.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
It was just it stood out so much. It elevated
both matches. It must have been brilliant for the players.
It was great to watch. It came across so well
on TV. And in your hope there are some options
around like this. I mean, I think from a memory
you're telling me that the thing with hut Wreck, apart
from being sort of temporary, it's just too far away,
(02:46):
isn't it So the Phoenix couldn't use that a couple
of times a year.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, yeah, it's not. I mean, it's not that hard
to get to. But I just think there are It
seemed very makeshift at the time, and I think that's
what it was too. You'd need to upgrade facilities around
changing sheds and maybe broadcast facilities, corporate hospitality, that sort
of thing. Look if they're going to upgrade anything, parttly
to a park would be a place that they could
(03:11):
look at. We know the women play there, and I
know that there's a lot of you know, a lot
of stuff that has to happen before you can upgrade
a venue. But anyway, we can marvel at what it
looked like at Redcliffe and hope that in the future
something similar happens in Wellington. As far as the game
was concerned, the men were first the women to follow
in the men's game Brisbane rawnil Wellington Phoenix three. Just
(03:35):
five days after that five to one loss to Melbourne
victory at Amy Park, first away win of the season
for the Phoenix, first clean sheet in twenty three A
League men's matches. Where does this performance sits? I mean
this season, it's clearly the best one. Where does it sit? Though? Bitch?
This was an outstanding display from the Phoenix men.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
It was unbelievable, It really was. I mean, I can't remember,
and I wanted to ask you, Piney, because you've seen
every match since they dot but there haven't been surely
too many matches, too many performances like this away from
home by the Wellington Phoenix men. Certainly it's one of
the most against the odds unexpected matches. But to come
(04:19):
up with that, given everything they've been through in Melbourne
and the fact they were down to ten men was
just remarkable, wasn't it It was?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
And Brucebane coming in as well, really with a bit
of wind in their sales. Yes, they had their coach
sent off and he had to watch this all unfold
from what looked to be like almost like they left
onto Michael Vlcats. A couple of times it was almost
like he'd been put in solitary confinement watching the game.
I think he had a couple of mates up there
with him, but he looked less and less pleased as
(04:49):
the game went on. But Brucebane came in, as we've said,
sold out crowd, they're flying. Look they're still up in
the upper echelons of the table and you know talking
putting the raw back into Brisbane and all that sort
of thing. But I the Phoenix were just absolutely magnificent.
And I've racked my brains burge and looked at a
couple of previous performances from seasons past, and I can't
(05:13):
remember a better away performance. The only couple that I
think would rival it. There was the eight to two
went over the Central Coast Mariners, which obviously the score
would suggest was an absolutely tremendous performance, But that was
in the twenty eighteen nineteen season. But the Mariners were
an absolute rebel at that point, so I'm not sure
(05:33):
you can count that. The only other one that jumped
into my mind was when the Phoenix went to Adelaide
on New Year's Eve in twenty fourteen and came away
with a three to one win. Adelaide were flying then
very hard to win over at Cooper's, Tyler Boyd got
a couple of late goals to give them a three
to one win. That's the only other one that jumped
(05:53):
into my mind. But regardless of all of that, just
terrific and against the backdrop, as you say, of having
a man sent off Carlo Armiento seen off after thirty
eight minutes. I haven't seen a decent replay of this.
I'm not sure there was one, like I don't know
whether we can, whether we can, you know, have too
many arguments about the red card. Can we.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Probably not. I'd just like to see another replay. But
one thing I don't like about Brisbane this year, like, Okay,
they're uncompromising their physical everything else. And we saw that
when they came to play work left c and they
sort of man handled them off the park. It go media,
but so they give it out. But also they're pretty
pretty quick when they are sort of found themselves to
(06:39):
be rolling around and creating a bit of drama themselves.
So I don't know that leaves a bit of a
bit of a sour taste. They're sort of the tough guys,
but also pretty quick to fall to the floor, and
I think that may have contributed to the red card.
Without seeing the replays that var saw, I guess.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, and we will never know. I mean the fact
that the Phoenix haven't haven't appealed the red card, I
guess says something it's pretty hard to get off, you know,
a red card on appeal. But yeah, I think you're right.
I mean, it happened just before Carlo Armiento lunged in
for that. There was a tackle or an attempted tackle
(07:18):
on him as he dragged the ball back and did
some clever little little you know, moves to get away
from a would be defender. A defender from Brisbane flies
in an armiento and look at the if play stops
at that point, I wonder whether we're looking at a
at a card for the other side. Regardless of all
of that, it then eventuated or led to it basically
(07:41):
an all in brawl. Did you say that they that
he find is got a yellow card after that? And
I think I think Dean Buzannis, the Brisbane goalkeeper as well.
How can you hand out yellow cards and a twenty
man brawl? And what it does? I mean it's is
A's fourth yellow card now, so he's won away from
(08:01):
a band and he's become a very important part of Wellington.
I'm not sure how you can hand that yellow cards.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
In that well. It was an impressive all in, wasn't it.
It was actually all in. It was almost almost everyone.
It was sort of nurl style really with the barging
and the pushing. But if you're going to hand out two,
you got to hand out five or six, I would
have thought, because there were plenty of players involved, that
kind of sparked it. So it was a bit harsh.
(08:30):
It was a bit harsh, and it will, as you say,
it will feel really harsh in a couple of weeks
when he picks up another yellow and he's sitting on
the sidelines.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yeah, I feel like you don't book anybody in that situation.
You just sort of look at them all and say, well,
you're all as guilty as one another. Let's just carry on.
I've sent Armiento off and let's all just carry on.
You're right, it was all in. I'd love to see
what I love to see drone footage of it. You know,
they players running from everywhere. We shouldn't laugh, I mean,
you're not don't want to encourage it, but at least
showed a bit of passion. By the stage. Of course,
(08:58):
Wellington will wander up as I had scored, seizing onto
a defensive era to make it one. The laughter six minutes,
then the booking rather the sending off, and we go
to halftime at one nill to the Phoenix. Can we
just go across to Amin McCarran at this point, because
on last week's pod we both said look at to
be utterly baffling if he is selected in goal again
(09:21):
after shipping five against Melbourne victory. LB Kelly healed was
there and could easily have been selected in goal, and
yet it was Amon McCarran again, who was selected between
the sticks, and I guess you have to say in hindsight,
he's kept the first clean sheet that the Phoenix have
had since January, and I think was pretty solid, not
(09:44):
tested particularly much by Brisbane, but I think he can
be fairly proud of his performance, can't he.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Well, you made the point last week in the middle
of our twenty minute discussion on him. You made the
point that you know, we don't know him that well, well,
we don't know what he's like, and maybe he is
quite mentally strong for his age, And you'd have to
say that that's probably the case, because you're right, he
(10:11):
wasn't tested that much. But to even come out in
the situation he'd been in and be in a match
like that, such a high precious scenario and come through
it is bloody impressive. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
One of my favorite bits is when he came out
to punch a corner and then just followed through and
absolutely collected to meet re Volcanus, the son of the coach,
and like you know, it was completely fair and Volcanus
has gone into knowing that you know that the fists
are going to be flying with mccaron looking to punch it.
But I just thought it was a really nice little
demonstration of Wellington not taking a backward step to a
(10:46):
very physical Brisbane side and mccaran, you know, basically stamping
his mark on it. He's good in the air, you know,
he catches most crosses. He flapped at a couple, but
look he's still young Brisbane. I could have peppered him more.
But the defense again in front of him, did a
really good job. I think, you know, Piper, James Hughes,
(11:08):
Sheridan Kelly healed when he came on, I think did
a pretty good job. Didn't they have protecting their goalkeeper?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Well they did relatively speaking. I mean it was similar
to a match we talked about a couple of weeks
ago with Auckland f C. Where Cracle was complaining that,
you know, they didn't really try and hurt the opposition,
hurt the keeper. It was a bit the same for
a change this season. Wellington had had quite a good shield,
(11:34):
didn't they in front of the keeper, Whereas there's been
quite a few games where you know, when oli Emer
was in there when he was man of the match,
because he was so busy, so that that shield was crucial.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Yeah, indeed. And we talked about the game against or
between Auckland FC and Newcastle on New Year's Day where
Newcastle made sixty odd clearances. Phoenix were similar in this
game fifty four clearances. They only had a third of
the possession to Brisbane's two thirds, which happens when down
to ten. But look, I think they made themselves incredibly
hard to break down and then we're ruthless at the
(12:07):
other end. The second goal came on the our mark
Kazuki Nagasawa after amazing run from Isa. He's an incredible player.
He find Isa isn't He doesn't like anything I've ever
seen in the A League. The way he picked the
ball up and went off on this run and you
thought he's going to lose that. It's bobbling a little bit.
He comes to defender, he's going to take it off him,
(12:27):
but he's run about fifty meters. It links up with Nazarene,
the ball falls and Nagasawa makes it to nil. But
a big part of that goal is he find Isa's
influence as well. Well.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
We didn't get really to speak about him last week
because we're talking about a lot of other things. But
I was also so impressed with him in that game
against Malvin Victory, mainly because he's just so wholehearted, you know,
for an import, he just seems to care so much.
It can't have been an easy season for him because
he's had a lot of matches as a striker where
he's not getting much service, not getting much ball. You
(12:59):
get quite down. It's not easy, but he just keeps going.
He's just so so determined and energetic and as I say, wholehearted,
and that must be really inspiring for his teammates because
it's not. It doesn't always happen with an import, and
I'm just so happy for him that that things came off.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah, I agree, I think he It's easy, isn't it
to look at an important and and this happens in
the A League and they come over here and they're
not too sure what to expect, and it sometimes gets
a bit physical, a little bit robust, and they might
go missing. But you're right, even in the midst of
a five to one defeat, he was still trying, wasn't
he against Melbourne Victory, to get possession, to make something happen.
(13:42):
He just he didn't give up, And I think that's
all fans can ask for from any player. You know, win, lose,
all draw. If their players are showing passion for the badge,
then they're going to become very very popular, very quickly.
And as A is a great example of that. And
then right at the end stoppage time, Luke brook Smith
breaks away. I've seen some social media of this. They reckon.
(14:03):
He goes from box to box in twelve seconds, which
is fairly impressive. Nutmegs is the former Phoenix player. Houston
sellas on the way and then has the football IQ
rather than to look to beat the goalkeeper. He hears
Paula Retree coming up on his left side, slips it
to him and it's a tap and I mean it's
(14:26):
and you look at the school board and you say
the Phoenix have won this game three nil. Remarkable. But
Luke brook Smith, I mean, I've said on social media afterwards,
that's the reason you've got to consider him for the
All Whites World Cup squad. He's he coming on late
against tiring defenses, a bit of X factor. I think
Darren Basley really has to consider Luke brook Smith for
(14:47):
his twenty six man World Cup squad.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
He does and I really liked, as you say, the
composure to see that pass. Firstly, he's got to see
it and then he's got to play it, and both
those things are quite difficult. Especially playing that pass. You
could play it a bit too a bit too heavy
or a bit to get not get the angle right
and the keeper gets to it. So be able to
play that pass, you know, very impressive. Plus he's a
(15:11):
guy that's probably desperate for another goal. But yeah, we
were talking about him at the start of the season,
weren't we as a bolter and as a guy that's
just got something different. And then he hasn't played much,
you know, he's been averaging I think twenty minutes a
game or something, often coming on when they're behind. So
I felt like the weekend was a reminder, was a
reminder of what he could do. And I just hope
(15:34):
that he starts to get some more opportunities, maybe even
start a couple of games, because he's definitely different.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Yeah, I think in a twenty six man squad you
can afford to punt on him. You know, if it
was twenty three men, then maybe maybe it might be
a bit tight. But I think in a twenty six
man squad, you can take him. And if Darren baslely
looks along his bench, you know, late in a game
and needs something a bit different, you know, as eyes
might well fall on Luke brook Smith, completely unknown really
by opposition defenders and coaches. And look, you saw what
(16:05):
he did when the game was stretched there at the
end on at Caio Stadium. So yeah, look, I think
you're right. Be good to see more of him and
hopefully he will take confidence from that performance a few
minutes off the bench and and setting up that goal
for the for the games ahead. After the game, gian
Calo Italiana chiefly visibly emotional at his press conference. You know,
(16:27):
I had to had to catch himself. He was, he
was tearing up, and then called it the best performance
in his coaching career. You know, there's been a lot
of pressure heaped onto Gianclo Italiana and his players, and
clearly that was a dam bursting in many ways in
terms of the emotion that he showed. Is this a
(16:47):
turning point? Could it be a turning point for this team?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Well? You hope so, I'd say, first of all, it's
a turning point for this podcast, because if if this
is what Humble pie tastes like, then give me some
more of it. Oh, I think I'll have a big
plate for Yeah, I think I will, because we're both
being quite critical of Chief and it's a lot of
it's been justified. And of course last week we talked
(17:14):
about a lot and I think I said something like,
you know, where there are four points of drift, where
are those points coming from? Where they just got three
of them? You know? So look, I think it will
be a turning point. I don't know how big a
turning point, but they'll take so much confidence and belief.
There's still plenty to work out. But that is the
(17:34):
kind of I don't know, it just feels like the
kind performance that that galvanizes a squad.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, the trekker is to back it up, right, that's
what they have to do. They have you know, they
had a really good win against Adelaide at the back
end of November, but then you know, lost the Derby
and then lost to the Newcastle Jets off the back
of that. Even when they beat Brisbane early in the season,
that was followed by a draw and two losses. With
the table so tight, if you stack wins then you
(18:02):
can progress really, really quickly. Adelaide United at home next
on Sunday. They're coming in off the back of a
four nil humbling at home by the Mariners, missing some
key players on Australian Under twenty three duty, and has
just mentioned the Phoenix have already beaten them once in
Wellington this season, so a great opportunity to you know,
to build some consistency because then they're away at Sydney
(18:24):
FC and Newcastle. You spoke last week about being a
bit worried about January. I was too, And look, this
result against Brisbane won't mean a heck of a lot
if they If they can't pick up another win or
two in the next three or four games. They need
to consistently now start picking up points, don't they.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
They do, and the good but the good thing about
the result is you think it would bring a few
fans back for the game at home, which you know
has a has a compound effect. They have a few
more people in the crowd, better atmosphere, they play well.
If they can be at Adelaide then then they're really
they're really on a roll. If they can't get a result,
as you say, with those games coming up away, it
(19:06):
is tricky but they've certainly turned a little corner and
we'll see how big that becomes, I imagine.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Yeah, and de well as we sait here today, they're
on fourteen points. That currently has them in ninth place
on the table, but the team in sixth, the Newcastle Jets,
are only one point ahead, so depending on other results,
if the Phoenix were to win on the weekend, they
could easily finish the weekend inside the top six. Is
at the moment just five points between Sydney and second
(19:36):
and the Phoenix and ninth, and there's still fifteen games
to go, so as tight a table as I can remember.
Just a word on a debutante for Wellington, Ryan Lee,
the teenage defender, got a minute at the end, so
he becomes Phoenix player number one hundred and ninety nine,
and I think there's a pretty good bit of a
mail around that Phoenix player number two hundred birds is
(19:58):
going to be built too long. Who yesterday was posting
on his Instagram pictures of Wellington Harbor, so he's clearly
in the capitol. Had it on pretty good authority that
he has signed with the Phoenix. Made debut as early
as the weekend. Ortho I'm not sure what the clearances are.
He's off contracts. I'm not sure that you have to
wait till the window opens. But Bill Tulley Lama, by
(20:19):
the sounds of it, is going to be joining the
Phoenix squad for the rest of this season.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Yes, I saw that popping around last night. I think
it's I think this is a great move for both
player and club. I mean for the Phoenix. For me,
one of the big concerns last season and this season
has been there's a bit of a a greenness about
their back line, even when they had Scott Whoten. Now
they don't have Scott Wooden. Man Dracer James is there,
(20:46):
but he's still getting used to the A League. But
I just look across and I always feel that they're
a bit green at the back and it's made it hard.
Whereas you look at selkle f C with de Freeze,
Dan Hall, Pineker Suckeye, They've just even even gild Rice
has got a lot of experience, so I think they
desperately need experience at the back. And he brings that.
(21:07):
He's a great man, he's a great culture guy. And
then for Bill, obviously he wants to make sure he's
in the World Cup squad. Yeah, because he's probably he's
on the fringe, isn't he. But he's not as easy
to forget. In twenty twenty two when they played Costa Rica,
and during that whole cycle, he was one of the
four guys in the leadership group of the All Whites.
It was him, Winston, Chris Wood and Joe Bell. That's
(21:31):
how highly regarded he was. And he's he's slipped down
the pecking order a bit, but he's still a guy
that brings so much off the field and he'll be
a contender there. So I think this is actually a
really really pivotal signing for the Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Yeah. I look at at the possibility of it, and
you talk about the lack of experience. I look at
a possible back three of Bill t Wiloma, Man, Draker
James and Isaac Hughes, and all of a sudden, it
looks a lot more solid, doesn't it. You know, a
lot more than some of the inexperience and the and
the you know, the younger players that have been used
in those positions. So yeah, I think, as you say,
(22:07):
for club and for the player, Yeah, great move. And
yeah again Bill Tuloma. I think you're right. Maybe it
doesn't make a twenty three man squad would certainly be
in the in the mix for a twenty six man
squad with his experience and his versatility, able to play
a bunch of positions across the back four or the
back line, whatever Darren Basley chooses. So no army into
(22:27):
for Wellington that one game ban for a red card
for Sunday's game against Adelaide. Unclear of Josh Ollaway Amy
will return or not. Haven't had any further clarification on that,
but Amon McCarron, I'm sure after his clean shed on
the on the weekend, we'll we'll be putting his hand
up to start again at home on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
The Football Fever podcast with Jason Vain and Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
And then followed the women's game Brisbane too Wellington Phoenix
Women two. This was a cracking game of football played
in front of a bigroud because you know sometimes when
there's a double header, if the women are second, you
know some fans just come for the men's game. I
think people turned up for the women's game because of Samba.
We've mentioned a lot about her and the Nepalese. Following
(23:12):
that she has but to to Manaiah Elliott with a
goal after fifteen minutes. Brisbane got a couple before halftime
and then brooke none right at the end. A speculator
in the ninety eighth minute, a couple of pretty freakish goals,
burge Weld.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
They I don't think you see more freakish goals from
the Phoenix this season. The first goal I thought there
was was brilliant, brilliant vision to see the opportunity and
then to execute it. I mean that was how far
it was.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
She I'll be forty yards on the angle surely, you.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Know, and to execute that and right right and by
the by the poster loft's that's beautiful. That's what you
dream about. And then the second one the goalkeeper won't
be proud of the Brisbane goalkeeper, but still she had
it well, got the angle right. So yeah, it was
a couple of crazy goals and the Brisbane goal was won.
(24:05):
The second Brisbane goal was a pearl or two, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
It was, yes, and some great goals in this game.
Quite an important result to for bev Priestman. You know,
not not so much because they got a point, you know,
I think I read that was the first point they've
ever got in Queensland. But off the back of the
seven nil and the three nil, you know, another away
game on hostile territory, although the Nepalese community again made
(24:31):
it feel a little bit like a home game. But
just to continue to pick up points, you know, they
they've had their troubles away as we say, to come
from behind and to keep on banging on that door
and to finally bust it down right at the end.
You talk about moments and matches which build confidence and
galvanize a team. I wonder whether this might be one
(24:51):
of those.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
I think so, mate. It'll feel like a win, won't
It'll feel like a win when you when you get
a goal like that in those circumstances. And it was
probably the I wouldn't say the most hostile atmosphere, but
it's certainly the game they've played with the most opposition fans.
So it's a good test. I thought Brisbane were really
good and so to get another point on their travels,
(25:16):
it's just building that foundation of belief that hey, we
can do well in Australia. Whereas you make a great
point if they'd lost after having a couple of consecutive breakthroughs,
that'd be tougher to take.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Yeah, yeah, it would, And so they take another point.
They are fifth, but only two points off the Mariners
and fourth and four points behind Victor Egan third, and
they've got two games in hand on both of those teams.
So when you're games in hand and all of a
sudden you're up in the top three. Massive game coming
up on Saturday. They welcome second placed Melbourne City to
(25:53):
Pottydoor Park four o'clock kick off. And we've talked a lot,
haven't we about that game in round four I think
it was or the fourth game Wellington have played the season. Anyway,
when they lost one, Nill Rebecca stopped the football firm
scoring a goal right at the end. That was pretty
much from Memory Birds. The only opportunity Melbourne City had
in that entire game, it.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Was, it was. It was a really weird scenario, their
only chance. The Phoenix had five or six good opportunities
for Memory. So they'll go into this game with belief
there'll be a huge crowd there and it's it's just
set up really well, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Yeah, the two best defensive teams in the league.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
You know.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Even having conceded the two on the weekend, which is
that's the first time the Phoenix have let too in
all season, they still have only conceded six in eight games.
Melbourne City just six goals conceded as well. So then
you start looking for game breakers, don't you, when you
start thinking about players who might you know, have an
influence as far as the Phoenix are concerned. Samba went
(26:52):
off injured which was a concern. Again haven't heard any
clarification about her availability for the weekend, but I mean,
obviously the ideal if she was there. I just I
quite like Brooke Nunn. She's really growing on me as
a as a player, you know, apart from the goal
she got, but like Isa, she just kept on going.
(27:13):
She seems like she's got a really good engine. She's
got a little bit of mongrel and that's a positive.
She was squaring off with one of the Brisbane players
at one point I saw. I feel like she's a
bit of a spark in the side.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Mmm. She's a bit like that. She's very persistent, she's
strong in the tackle, strong on the ball. I mean.
The interesting thing for me about this team is you
can already see the collective improvement that since the first match,
but what about the individual improvement? You know, there are
(27:47):
individuals that have already gone in leaps and bounds from
where they were last season or where they were at
the start of this season. That is the encouraging thing.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Yeah, And that's coaching, isn't it. You know that coaches
improved players, don't they good one They get hold of
players and they improve them. And we know be Priestman's
credentials and clearly she's doing exactly that. No CJ Bot
for this game again, no news on whether she'll be
available to face Melbourne City. I mean it would be
a big loss if she was out for a prolonged period.
(28:17):
It did give him a Pinenberger chance to start for
a starting day Bill and I think she did a
pretty serviceable job, I think, but short of a gallop
withdrawn sort of during the second half. But yeah, look,
a really crucial game, in fact, a crucial couple of
games because following this they then visit league leaders Canberra
for they obviously have played them once already this season,
(28:41):
So big Fortnite coming up. But what you say is
so true. Birds there's an obvious improvement in this team
if you compare them to the team that had those
one all draws at the start of the season and
just looked like they were kind of stuck in the
mud at the start line for a little while.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
They did, and I think Canberra were lucky to play
Wellington when they did. Camber's very experienced team and you know,
they know what they're doing. So hopefully that will show
in a week's time. But I don't think any team
will want to come to Poro Park now. I think
it's going to become a really a pretty fearsome assignment,
(29:16):
you know, especially with those fans that make such a
racket and then you've got the players that seem to
love playing there.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Yeah, and so this Saturday year, I mean, if you're
in the Wellington area, I would urge you to get
along to Potty to a park for what it's set
to be a massive game as the Phoenix take on
Melbourne City. Yeah. Make it a fortress, make it a
difficult place to come, make it a place that, yes
you say, birds, that teams don't want to visit. So
four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, the Wellington Phoenix Women up
(29:42):
against Melbourne City. If that goes well, they could find
themselves up in the certainly in the top four and
even beyond at the end of the weekend.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
Good balls either with Jason Paide and mikel Burgess.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
And that brings us to last night at campbell Town.
A fairly sparsely populated Campbelltown. I must say not too
many of the locals venturing out on what was a
fairly wet evening. First time. Auckland have been there as
well when they played MacArthur away last year. It was
U Night rounds and so all the teams played in
the same place. MacArthur won Auckland FC.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
One.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Let's start with an overall summation Burge. I are Auckland
happy with a point to MacArthur happy with a point?
Who who deserved to win this game?
Speaker 3 (30:27):
If either MacArthur will be happy, They'll be very happy
with the point. They're a good team. But I thought
Auckland were the better side go ahead and at one
nil they had a couple of chances to make it
to nil, which would of course probably probably sealed the result.
And then MacArthur get a goal, get a very good
(30:48):
goal and it became quite interesting from there. But I
think Auckland will be like to get in a point
way at MacArthur. The season not easy to've improved from
last year, so Auckland won't be to distraught, but they'll
be thinking we should have got that one.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Yeah it was, well, let's we can't. We can't talk
about the changes before we sort of build the narrative
of the starting eleven. So some significant changes to the
starting eleven after the loss to the Jets, with Kellen Elliott,
Jake Goodwouldri Like Gazumer Mai and Sam Cosgrove all dropping
down to the bench. The Rocky Saka came back, I
(31:24):
think that was probably expected. Pineker and for goodwould Rike
Rogerson and Francois into the starting eleven. So for the
first time this season Auckland FC didn't start with Sam
Cosgrove up top. It kind of changed things. I just
thought they looked a little bit unbalanced without without an
actual center forward Francois Randall Rogerson. I mean, Brook was
(31:47):
in the ten and we can talk a bit more
about his performance, which was again excellent, but I don't know,
it just felt us though the front three didn't quite
know where to be all of the time without Sam
Cosgrove kind of anchoring them in that number nine role.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
Yeah, they haven't played together at all this season that three,
so it was always going to be a bit tricky
at times. I quite liked it because with Randall's pace,
it stretches the defense a bit, and that I thought
gave Brook a bit of space because sometimes with Cosgrove,
his his moving circle is you know, it doesn't move
(32:24):
that much, so he's a a bit more stationary. But
I guess Cosgrove is the anchor, isn't he. So it
was a surprise. He's been playing all season and he
was planned b in that game. I think they might
revert to him being playing a but I maybe they
thought he didn't go that well against Newcastle so they
had to try something different.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Yeah, and Steve Corica also pointed out that they have
three games in nine days. But then again, I mean
there's other players in the team who will play every
minute of those games. Lachlan Brook, it just feels to
me as though he has to be the number ten now.
You know, the previous week against Newcastle gives you my
Mike came back into the starting eleven and Brooke reverted
(33:08):
as the white position. You talked last week about how
you know, seemed to be out of the game on
the fringes, a lot of stuff going down the left.
He was all the way over the right by himself.
He's just so much more effective in that ten role.
Scored a goal last night. Everything good for Auckland FC
in the attacking sense seemed to go through Lachland. Brookie
has to be the starting ten, doesn't he?
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Yes, yes, I mean you called it a couple of
weeks ago. I think you're probably the first person to
call it to say he's a Johnny Warren Medalist contender,
and he certainly looked. He's just so influential. He looks
so confident and that playmaker role just behind the stre well.
It was actually a free roll last night, wasn't it.
(33:49):
He was sort of floating and popping everywhere. But that
suits him down to a te He probably should have
got a second goal. That'll be something he'll be kicking
himself about. But I was surprised he went off like
I don't want to start criticizing Kuraka again. We talked
last week about the substitutions. You know, it's way more
about football than any of us. But I was a
(34:10):
bit surprised. I thought he was playing well, and you
just I thought MacArthur would have been happy when he
went off. Put it that way, yes, oh, same sixty
four minutes and when they made the triple change, I
it didn't even occur to me that one of those
coming off would be Lachlan brook. He looked, you know,
at that point they were one nell up. So I
(34:30):
get you know that they change things. They go to
the back three, goodwood Wright comes on, Pinaker, goodwould right,
Hall becomes the back three, and then you got Devres
and Sarki as a back five out of possession, and
I get that.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
I get that. You're one nell up away from home
with twenty five minutes to go. You think, okay, this
is the time to sew things up. But I'd still
keep locky Brook on. You know, yes, Jesse Randalls had
a good season, but he remained on until five minutes
from the end. Rogerson went off at this same time.
Brooke did as well as Francois. But yeah, I just
(35:04):
think they look better when he's playing. And again, maybe
it's one of those where you say, okay, we've got
another game coming up on Friday night, but I think
they really missed him when he was subbed. Was it
felt early to me to go to the back five,
I e. The back three sixty five minutes or maybe
it's not. I don't know. Is that the right time
to shut up shop when you wander up away from home.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
I felt like it was a bit early, and I
don't want to be being smart in hindsight, but I
was sitting there watching and I think it was even
about sixty two minutes, and I thought, oh, really, they're
going to a back five now, because to me remembering
last season and generally it's always around the seventy five
minute mark, and it's a good idea in theory, but
then you do give up something when you go to
(35:48):
back five. Obviously you give up a body further forward,
which makes it tricky. And then of course it just
felt it felt a little bit early to go to
a back five, And with Brooke, I just you're right,
they need him for the next few games. He's so
influential now, but keep in mind for another ten minutes
(36:08):
and maybe he gets another goal. I h I would
have liked to see him play a bit more.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Yea, because the problem is strike because then they concede
and it's one all and you don't have that extra
body if you're go and chasing the win, which Auckland did.
To be fair, they gave it a crack. You know,
some teams they say, okay, well one all will take
that as well on the road, but Auckland always look
to try and win games. It's a nice goal actually
from from MacArthur, Liam Rose dinking a ball across to
Callum Talbot, who had an excellent game at right back
(36:35):
for MacArthur. He squared it back and Tommy Yrsk I'm
not sure he got the greatest contact on the header,
but in fact, if you've got better contact, it might
have gone straight to vowed. So it probably wasn't a
bad idea just to sort of flick it into the corner.
One all it is, and I mean MacArthur are unbeaten
the six games now, you know, one of the more
consistent sides in the competition. So if you zoom out
of it and say we'll take a point away at
(36:56):
a team that is on a six game unbeaten streak.
But yeah, they perhaps could have could have done things differently,
but you're right. You know, Steve Courrikan knows way more
about the stuff than we do. He's got a plan. Well,
it's good to see Liam Gillian back on the pitture
as well. I thought at the end he's almost become
a little bit of the forgotten man Liam Gillian. Last year,
remember he was for the first dozen games or so,
(37:18):
he was magnificent, made the All Whites off the back
of his A League performances and has kind of drifted away.
I was pleased to see Liam Gillian back out there,
even for a short time, showing a little bit of
energy in the in the Auckland FC shirt.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
Well, last season he was sparkling in the spring, wasn't
he All through spring he was, and he became a
really popular player with the fans. And it's hard to
come on with ten minutes. But he did a couple
of nice things as well. On one particular little incision
where he beat a couple of players and put across
and that was blocked. So yeah, it was nice for
her Man in Auckland. To their credit, they created a
(37:54):
lot more even from one to one. They looked the
more team, the team more likely to score. So they've
still got a lot going for them. They'll probably just
be thinking if Lachland Brook buries that chance he has
if he takes it on his right foot, and I
think it was a Jesse Randall played it back to
him and he tried to beat his man and then
be a bit cute and put it on the left,
(38:14):
which you can see what he's trying to do. But
if he takes it first time and is right to nil,
and it's probably game over.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
Indeed indeed, So I mean we don't need to get
too hypercritical. Auckland FC have actually increased their lead at
the top. They are two points ahead of Sydney FC,
who do have a game in hand, So if Sidney
would were to win the game in hand, they would
go above Auckland. Auckland now are in a situation where
Brisbane could join them at the top. Brisbane play Melbourne
(38:42):
City at Amy Park tonight. We're recording this on Tuesday,
so if Brisbane were to go to Melbourne and win,
that would take them to twenty one points, level with
Auckland FC. So you know, even despite their lost Brisbane
the other day to the Phoenix, they're still sniffing around
the top. And for Auckland FC will stay in Australia
and play Brisbane on Friday nights. So yeah, Brisbane win tonight.
(39:04):
There's a top of the table clash to look forward
to it at sun Corps Stadium. So eleven games in
Birds to the to the A League mens. It's like
I can't remember a tighter A League men's season where
teams from top two. I mean my pick for the
Premier's play Western Sydney bottom for goodness sake bottom, but
there are only six points outside the top six.
Speaker 3 (39:26):
So you know, and I think my pick Melbourne Victory
were bottom about three weeks ago and they've saw themselves out.
But you're like, you look at a team like Newcastle,
what have they had the season? Six losses? Yep, they're
still outside the top six, but they've been a clancy
twice and they could be anything on their day. So
(39:46):
they sort of sum up this season's A league. I
think it's fantastic because that's what you want. Do you
want genuine uncertainty, that's what you got.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
You didn't want to pick Maritis to go to Adelaide
and win four and all the other night, No, absolutely not,
absolutely not. They pick Phoenix to beat Brisbane. Absolutely not.
And you can say that every week there is genuine
jeopardy in this league and it will it will keep
fans of every club interested deep, deep, deep into the season.
Look Western Sydney could, I mean you look at their
team and I saw Allan Stadgeic their coach, talk about
(40:17):
their XG which is I've never really got my head around.
But what it means is the quality of the chances
you create, it still needs you to finish them off.
He reckons their top of the XG table, They've hit
the post nine times or something. You know, he still
believes they can win the whole thing. So you know,
and you look at the quality of their squad and
(40:38):
you think, well, actually they're probably, on paper anyway, one
of the three or four best rosters in the competition.
But you still got to win games. But yeah, so
it does. It makes it very very, very very exciting
each week. So Friday night Auckland FC against Brisbane, Saturday
afternoon Wellington Phoenix Woman against Melbourne City and Sunday afternoon
that's the next game for the Wellington Phoenix at home
(41:00):
to Adelaide. Games are coming thick and fast. Burge, I'm
not sure what day it is today. I'm not sure
when we'll catch up next, but another episode of Football
Fever surely must be somewhere in our future.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
I can't wait. And that's but seriously, that's a that's
a great lineup this weekend the matches, isn't it. That's
one of the best lineups I would have thought the
season we've had for all three teams.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
We look forward to breaking those three games down with
you next Monday.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
F
Football Fever, the podcast keeping you up to date with
the beautiful game with the voice of football Jason Paine
and Zen Heralds Makeel Burgess, powered by News Talks Hebby.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hi, there, Welcome into Football Fever as we review another
three games involving the three New Zealand teams in the
A Leagues the men's and women's competition. I'm Jason Pinemichael
Burgess us here, Burge. I'm not quite sure how you
are fitting everything in at the moment. You're at the tennis,
you're covering the football, you're probably doing some rugby league
preview stories. It's amazing you found time for the Football
(00:35):
Fever audience.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
It's a brilliant time of year. Though I do love
the tennis, but I love all this football happening too.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
All right, isn't it just all right? Let's get straight
into it with Saturday's doubleheader at Redcloffe. Actually, can we
start with the venue, Burge? How good did it look there?
You think about sun Corpse Stadium and those rows and
rows of seats with nobody sitting in them, and then
you think about Sky Stadium in Wellington in the same situation.
(01:03):
Is that a model for what the A League should
be looking to do in terms of venue type and
venue size.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Oh, it's the future, It's absolutely the future. It's perfect.
Go media works pretty well, but far out that because
remember that stadium was where the Warriors played during their
COVID right COVID were marooned, they played there and then
it became Redcliff's Home of the Dolphins. Sorry, beautiful, perfect size,
(01:31):
the crowd's so close. It was just a rollicking atmosphere.
And you really hope one day there's some angel investor
that comes along and wants to build something like that,
and Wellington be perfect for the Phoenix and the Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Wouldn't it absolutely right? Yeah, like a ten to twelve
to fifteen thousand seat stadium rectangular with a crowd as
nice and close. It reminded me actually the days I
think we might have talked about this on a previous
episode when the Phoenix had to go out to the
hut Wreck. It was during the twenty fifteen Cricket World
Cup and obviously Sky Stadium being used for the cricket
so the Phoenix went out to the hut Wreck and
(02:05):
that's nowhere near the size of Kaya Stadium. It holds
I think four or five thousand. But the intimacy of
it and the experience for the fans and I'm sure
for the players too. As you say, Burget, the A
League can't at the moment be played in these cavernous stadiums.
It has to it has to be smaller venues where
the atmosphere is. Like we saw it at Reecliffe on
(02:25):
the weekend.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
It was just it stood out so much. It elevated
both matches. It must have been brilliant for the players.
It was great to watch. It came across so well
on TV. And in your hope there are some options
around like this. I mean, I think from a memory
you're telling me that the thing with hut Wreck, apart
from being sort of temporary, it's just too far away,
(02:46):
isn't it So the Phoenix couldn't use that a couple
of times a year.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, yeah, it's not. I mean, it's not that hard
to get to. But I just think there are It
seemed very makeshift at the time, and I think that's
what it was too. You'd need to upgrade facilities around
changing sheds and maybe broadcast facilities, corporate hospitality, that sort
of thing. Look if they're going to upgrade anything, parttly
to a park would be a place that they could
(03:11):
look at. We know the women play there, and I
know that there's a lot of you know, a lot
of stuff that has to happen before you can upgrade
a venue. But anyway, we can marvel at what it
looked like at Redcliffe and hope that in the future
something similar happens in Wellington. As far as the game
was concerned, the men were first the women to follow
in the men's game Brisbane rawnil Wellington Phoenix three. Just
(03:35):
five days after that five to one loss to Melbourne
victory at Amy Park, first away win of the season
for the Phoenix, first clean sheet in twenty three A
League men's matches. Where does this performance sits? I mean
this season, it's clearly the best one. Where does it sit? Though? Bitch?
This was an outstanding display from the Phoenix men.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
It was unbelievable, It really was. I mean, I can't remember,
and I wanted to ask you, Piney, because you've seen
every match since they dot but there haven't been surely
too many matches, too many performances like this away from
home by the Wellington Phoenix men. Certainly it's one of
the most against the odds unexpected matches. But to come
(04:19):
up with that, given everything they've been through in Melbourne
and the fact they were down to ten men was
just remarkable, wasn't it It was?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
And Brucebane coming in as well, really with a bit
of wind in their sales. Yes, they had their coach
sent off and he had to watch this all unfold
from what looked to be like almost like they left
onto Michael Vlcats. A couple of times it was almost
like he'd been put in solitary confinement watching the game.
I think he had a couple of mates up there
with him, but he looked less and less pleased as
(04:49):
the game went on. But Brucebane came in, as we've said,
sold out crowd, they're flying. Look they're still up in
the upper echelons of the table and you know talking
putting the raw back into Brisbane and all that sort
of thing. But I the Phoenix were just absolutely magnificent.
And I've racked my brains burge and looked at a
couple of previous performances from seasons past, and I can't
(05:13):
remember a better away performance. The only couple that I
think would rival it. There was the eight to two
went over the Central Coast Mariners, which obviously the score
would suggest was an absolutely tremendous performance, But that was
in the twenty eighteen nineteen season. But the Mariners were
an absolute rebel at that point, so I'm not sure
(05:33):
you can count that. The only other one that jumped
into my mind was when the Phoenix went to Adelaide
on New Year's Eve in twenty fourteen and came away
with a three to one win. Adelaide were flying then
very hard to win over at Cooper's, Tyler Boyd got
a couple of late goals to give them a three
to one win. That's the only other one that jumped
(05:53):
into my mind. But regardless of all of that, just
terrific and against the backdrop, as you say, of having
a man sent off Carlo Armiento seen off after thirty
eight minutes. I haven't seen a decent replay of this.
I'm not sure there was one, like I don't know
whether we can, whether we can, you know, have too
many arguments about the red card. Can we.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Probably not. I'd just like to see another replay. But
one thing I don't like about Brisbane this year, like, Okay,
they're uncompromising their physical everything else. And we saw that
when they came to play work left c and they
sort of man handled them off the park. It go media,
but so they give it out. But also they're pretty
pretty quick when they are sort of found themselves to
(06:39):
be rolling around and creating a bit of drama themselves.
So I don't know that leaves a bit of a
bit of a sour taste. They're sort of the tough guys,
but also pretty quick to fall to the floor, and
I think that may have contributed to the red card.
Without seeing the replays that var saw, I guess.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, and we will never know. I mean the fact
that the Phoenix haven't haven't appealed the red card, I
guess says something it's pretty hard to get off, you know,
a red card on appeal. But yeah, I think you're right.
I mean, it happened just before Carlo Armiento lunged in
for that. There was a tackle or an attempted tackle
(07:18):
on him as he dragged the ball back and did
some clever little little you know, moves to get away
from a would be defender. A defender from Brisbane flies
in an armiento and look at the if play stops
at that point, I wonder whether we're looking at a
at a card for the other side. Regardless of all
of that, it then eventuated or led to it basically
(07:41):
an all in brawl. Did you say that they that
he find is got a yellow card after that? And
I think I think Dean Buzannis, the Brisbane goalkeeper as well.
How can you hand out yellow cards and a twenty
man brawl? And what it does? I mean it's is
A's fourth yellow card now, so he's won away from
(08:01):
a band and he's become a very important part of Wellington.
I'm not sure how you can hand that yellow cards.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
In that well. It was an impressive all in, wasn't it.
It was actually all in. It was almost almost everyone.
It was sort of nurl style really with the barging
and the pushing. But if you're going to hand out two,
you got to hand out five or six, I would
have thought, because there were plenty of players involved, that
kind of sparked it. So it was a bit harsh.
(08:30):
It was a bit harsh, and it will, as you say,
it will feel really harsh in a couple of weeks
when he picks up another yellow and he's sitting on
the sidelines.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yeah, I feel like you don't book anybody in that situation.
You just sort of look at them all and say, well,
you're all as guilty as one another. Let's just carry on.
I've sent Armiento off and let's all just carry on.
You're right, it was all in. I'd love to see
what I love to see drone footage of it. You know,
they players running from everywhere. We shouldn't laugh, I mean,
you're not don't want to encourage it, but at least
showed a bit of passion. By the stage. Of course,
(08:58):
Wellington will wander up as I had scored, seizing onto
a defensive era to make it one. The laughter six minutes,
then the booking rather the sending off, and we go
to halftime at one nill to the Phoenix. Can we
just go across to Amin McCarran at this point, because
on last week's pod we both said look at to
be utterly baffling if he is selected in goal again
(09:21):
after shipping five against Melbourne victory. LB Kelly healed was
there and could easily have been selected in goal, and
yet it was Amon McCarran again, who was selected between
the sticks, and I guess you have to say in hindsight,
he's kept the first clean sheet that the Phoenix have
had since January, and I think was pretty solid, not
(09:44):
tested particularly much by Brisbane, but I think he can
be fairly proud of his performance, can't he.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Well, you made the point last week in the middle
of our twenty minute discussion on him. You made the
point that you know, we don't know him that well, well,
we don't know what he's like, and maybe he is
quite mentally strong for his age, And you'd have to
say that that's probably the case, because you're right, he
(10:11):
wasn't tested that much. But to even come out in
the situation he'd been in and be in a match
like that, such a high precious scenario and come through
it is bloody impressive. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
One of my favorite bits is when he came out
to punch a corner and then just followed through and
absolutely collected to meet re Volcanus, the son of the coach,
and like you know, it was completely fair and Volcanus
has gone into knowing that you know that the fists
are going to be flying with mccaron looking to punch it.
But I just thought it was a really nice little
demonstration of Wellington not taking a backward step to a
(10:46):
very physical Brisbane side and mccaran, you know, basically stamping
his mark on it. He's good in the air, you know,
he catches most crosses. He flapped at a couple, but
look he's still young Brisbane. I could have peppered him more.
But the defense again in front of him, did a
really good job. I think, you know, Piper, James Hughes,
(11:08):
Sheridan Kelly healed when he came on, I think did
a pretty good job. Didn't they have protecting their goalkeeper?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Well they did relatively speaking. I mean it was similar
to a match we talked about a couple of weeks
ago with Auckland f C. Where Cracle was complaining that,
you know, they didn't really try and hurt the opposition,
hurt the keeper. It was a bit the same for
a change this season. Wellington had had quite a good shield,
(11:34):
didn't they in front of the keeper, Whereas there's been
quite a few games where you know, when oli Emer
was in there when he was man of the match,
because he was so busy, so that that shield was crucial.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Yeah, indeed. And we talked about the game against or
between Auckland FC and Newcastle on New Year's Day where
Newcastle made sixty odd clearances. Phoenix were similar in this
game fifty four clearances. They only had a third of
the possession to Brisbane's two thirds, which happens when down
to ten. But look, I think they made themselves incredibly
hard to break down and then we're ruthless at the
(12:07):
other end. The second goal came on the our mark
Kazuki Nagasawa after amazing run from Isa. He's an incredible player.
He find Isa isn't He doesn't like anything I've ever
seen in the A League. The way he picked the
ball up and went off on this run and you
thought he's going to lose that. It's bobbling a little bit.
He comes to defender, he's going to take it off him,
(12:27):
but he's run about fifty meters. It links up with Nazarene,
the ball falls and Nagasawa makes it to nil. But
a big part of that goal is he find Isa's
influence as well. Well.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
We didn't get really to speak about him last week
because we're talking about a lot of other things. But
I was also so impressed with him in that game
against Malvin Victory, mainly because he's just so wholehearted, you know,
for an import, he just seems to care so much.
It can't have been an easy season for him because
he's had a lot of matches as a striker where
he's not getting much service, not getting much ball. You
(12:59):
get quite down. It's not easy, but he just keeps going.
He's just so so determined and energetic and as I say, wholehearted,
and that must be really inspiring for his teammates because
it's not. It doesn't always happen with an import, and
I'm just so happy for him that that things came off.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah, I agree, I think he It's easy, isn't it
to look at an important and and this happens in
the A League and they come over here and they're
not too sure what to expect, and it sometimes gets
a bit physical, a little bit robust, and they might
go missing. But you're right, even in the midst of
a five to one defeat, he was still trying, wasn't
he against Melbourne Victory, to get possession, to make something happen.
(13:42):
He just he didn't give up, And I think that's
all fans can ask for from any player. You know, win, lose,
all draw. If their players are showing passion for the badge,
then they're going to become very very popular, very quickly.
And as A is a great example of that. And
then right at the end stoppage time, Luke brook Smith
breaks away. I've seen some social media of this. They reckon.
(14:03):
He goes from box to box in twelve seconds, which
is fairly impressive. Nutmegs is the former Phoenix player. Houston
sellas on the way and then has the football IQ
rather than to look to beat the goalkeeper. He hears
Paula Retree coming up on his left side, slips it
to him and it's a tap and I mean it's
(14:26):
and you look at the school board and you say
the Phoenix have won this game three nil. Remarkable. But
Luke brook Smith, I mean, I've said on social media afterwards,
that's the reason you've got to consider him for the
All Whites World Cup squad. He's he coming on late
against tiring defenses, a bit of X factor. I think
Darren Basley really has to consider Luke brook Smith for
(14:47):
his twenty six man World Cup squad.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
He does and I really liked, as you say, the
composure to see that pass. Firstly, he's got to see
it and then he's got to play it, and both
those things are quite difficult. Especially playing that pass. You
could play it a bit too a bit too heavy
or a bit to get not get the angle right
and the keeper gets to it. So be able to
play that pass, you know, very impressive. Plus he's a
(15:11):
guy that's probably desperate for another goal. But yeah, we
were talking about him at the start of the season,
weren't we as a bolter and as a guy that's
just got something different. And then he hasn't played much,
you know, he's been averaging I think twenty minutes a
game or something, often coming on when they're behind. So
I felt like the weekend was a reminder, was a
reminder of what he could do. And I just hope
(15:34):
that he starts to get some more opportunities, maybe even
start a couple of games, because he's definitely different.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Yeah, I think in a twenty six man squad you
can afford to punt on him. You know, if it
was twenty three men, then maybe maybe it might be
a bit tight. But I think in a twenty six
man squad, you can take him. And if Darren baslely
looks along his bench, you know, late in a game
and needs something a bit different, you know, as eyes
might well fall on Luke brook Smith, completely unknown really
by opposition defenders and coaches. And look, you saw what
(16:05):
he did when the game was stretched there at the
end on at Caio Stadium. So yeah, look, I think
you're right. Be good to see more of him and
hopefully he will take confidence from that performance a few
minutes off the bench and and setting up that goal
for the for the games ahead. After the game, gian
Calo Italiana chiefly visibly emotional at his press conference. You know,
(16:27):
I had to had to catch himself. He was, he
was tearing up, and then called it the best performance
in his coaching career. You know, there's been a lot
of pressure heaped onto Gianclo Italiana and his players, and
clearly that was a dam bursting in many ways in
terms of the emotion that he showed. Is this a
(16:47):
turning point? Could it be a turning point for this team?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Well? You hope so, I'd say, first of all, it's
a turning point for this podcast, because if if this
is what Humble pie tastes like, then give me some
more of it. Oh, I think I'll have a big
plate for Yeah, I think I will, because we're both
being quite critical of Chief and it's a lot of
it's been justified. And of course last week we talked
(17:14):
about a lot and I think I said something like,
you know, where there are four points of drift, where
are those points coming from? Where they just got three
of them? You know? So look, I think it will
be a turning point. I don't know how big a
turning point, but they'll take so much confidence and belief.
There's still plenty to work out. But that is the
(17:34):
kind of I don't know, it just feels like the
kind performance that that galvanizes a squad.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, the trekker is to back it up, right, that's
what they have to do. They have you know, they
had a really good win against Adelaide at the back
end of November, but then you know, lost the Derby
and then lost to the Newcastle Jets off the back
of that. Even when they beat Brisbane early in the season,
that was followed by a draw and two losses. With
the table so tight, if you stack wins then you
(18:02):
can progress really, really quickly. Adelaide United at home next
on Sunday. They're coming in off the back of a
four nil humbling at home by the Mariners, missing some
key players on Australian Under twenty three duty, and has
just mentioned the Phoenix have already beaten them once in
Wellington this season, so a great opportunity to you know,
to build some consistency because then they're away at Sydney
(18:24):
FC and Newcastle. You spoke last week about being a
bit worried about January. I was too, And look, this
result against Brisbane won't mean a heck of a lot
if they If they can't pick up another win or
two in the next three or four games. They need
to consistently now start picking up points, don't they.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
They do, and the good but the good thing about
the result is you think it would bring a few
fans back for the game at home, which you know
has a has a compound effect. They have a few
more people in the crowd, better atmosphere, they play well.
If they can be at Adelaide then then they're really
they're really on a roll. If they can't get a result,
as you say, with those games coming up away, it
(19:06):
is tricky but they've certainly turned a little corner and
we'll see how big that becomes, I imagine.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Yeah, and de well as we sait here today, they're
on fourteen points. That currently has them in ninth place
on the table, but the team in sixth, the Newcastle Jets,
are only one point ahead, so depending on other results,
if the Phoenix were to win on the weekend, they
could easily finish the weekend inside the top six. Is
at the moment just five points between Sydney and second
(19:36):
and the Phoenix and ninth, and there's still fifteen games
to go, so as tight a table as I can remember.
Just a word on a debutante for Wellington, Ryan Lee,
the teenage defender, got a minute at the end, so
he becomes Phoenix player number one hundred and ninety nine,
and I think there's a pretty good bit of a
mail around that Phoenix player number two hundred birds is
(19:58):
going to be built too long. Who yesterday was posting
on his Instagram pictures of Wellington Harbor, so he's clearly
in the capitol. Had it on pretty good authority that
he has signed with the Phoenix. Made debut as early
as the weekend. Ortho I'm not sure what the clearances are.
He's off contracts. I'm not sure that you have to
wait till the window opens. But Bill Tulley Lama, by
(20:19):
the sounds of it, is going to be joining the
Phoenix squad for the rest of this season.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Yes, I saw that popping around last night. I think
it's I think this is a great move for both
player and club. I mean for the Phoenix. For me,
one of the big concerns last season and this season
has been there's a bit of a a greenness about
their back line, even when they had Scott Whoten. Now
they don't have Scott Wooden. Man Dracer James is there,
(20:46):
but he's still getting used to the A League. But
I just look across and I always feel that they're
a bit green at the back and it's made it hard.
Whereas you look at selkle f C with de Freeze,
Dan Hall, Pineker Suckeye, They've just even even gild Rice
has got a lot of experience, so I think they
desperately need experience at the back. And he brings that.
(21:07):
He's a great man, he's a great culture guy. And
then for Bill, obviously he wants to make sure he's
in the World Cup squad. Yeah, because he's probably he's
on the fringe, isn't he. But he's not as easy
to forget. In twenty twenty two when they played Costa Rica,
and during that whole cycle, he was one of the
four guys in the leadership group of the All Whites.
It was him, Winston, Chris Wood and Joe Bell. That's
(21:31):
how highly regarded he was. And he's he's slipped down
the pecking order a bit, but he's still a guy
that brings so much off the field and he'll be
a contender there. So I think this is actually a
really really pivotal signing for the Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Yeah. I look at at the possibility of it, and
you talk about the lack of experience. I look at
a possible back three of Bill t Wiloma, Man, Draker
James and Isaac Hughes, and all of a sudden, it
looks a lot more solid, doesn't it. You know, a
lot more than some of the inexperience and the and
the you know, the younger players that have been used
in those positions. So yeah, I think, as you say,
(22:07):
for club and for the player, Yeah, great move. And
yeah again Bill Tuloma. I think you're right. Maybe it
doesn't make a twenty three man squad would certainly be
in the in the mix for a twenty six man
squad with his experience and his versatility, able to play
a bunch of positions across the back four or the
back line, whatever Darren Basley chooses. So no army into
(22:27):
for Wellington that one game ban for a red card
for Sunday's game against Adelaide. Unclear of Josh Ollaway Amy
will return or not. Haven't had any further clarification on that,
but Amon McCarron, I'm sure after his clean shed on
the on the weekend, we'll we'll be putting his hand
up to start again at home on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
The Football Fever podcast with Jason Vain and Michael Burgess.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
And then followed the women's game Brisbane too Wellington Phoenix
Women two. This was a cracking game of football played
in front of a bigroud because you know sometimes when
there's a double header, if the women are second, you
know some fans just come for the men's game. I
think people turned up for the women's game because of Samba.
We've mentioned a lot about her and the Nepalese. Following
(23:12):
that she has but to to Manaiah Elliott with a
goal after fifteen minutes. Brisbane got a couple before halftime
and then brooke none right at the end. A speculator
in the ninety eighth minute, a couple of pretty freakish goals,
burge Weld.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
They I don't think you see more freakish goals from
the Phoenix this season. The first goal I thought there
was was brilliant, brilliant vision to see the opportunity and
then to execute it. I mean that was how far
it was.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
She I'll be forty yards on the angle surely, you.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Know, and to execute that and right right and by
the by the poster loft's that's beautiful. That's what you
dream about. And then the second one the goalkeeper won't
be proud of the Brisbane goalkeeper, but still she had
it well, got the angle right. So yeah, it was
a couple of crazy goals and the Brisbane goal was won.
(24:05):
The second Brisbane goal was a pearl or two, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
It was, yes, and some great goals in this game.
Quite an important result to for bev Priestman. You know,
not not so much because they got a point, you know,
I think I read that was the first point they've
ever got in Queensland. But off the back of the
seven nil and the three nil, you know, another away
game on hostile territory, although the Nepalese community again made
(24:31):
it feel a little bit like a home game. But
just to continue to pick up points, you know, they
they've had their troubles away as we say, to come
from behind and to keep on banging on that door
and to finally bust it down right at the end.
You talk about moments and matches which build confidence and
galvanize a team. I wonder whether this might be one
(24:51):
of those.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
I think so, mate. It'll feel like a win, won't
It'll feel like a win when you when you get
a goal like that in those circumstances. And it was
probably the I wouldn't say the most hostile atmosphere, but
it's certainly the game they've played with the most opposition fans.
So it's a good test. I thought Brisbane were really
good and so to get another point on their travels,
(25:16):
it's just building that foundation of belief that hey, we
can do well in Australia. Whereas you make a great
point if they'd lost after having a couple of consecutive breakthroughs,
that'd be tougher to take.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Yeah, yeah, it would, And so they take another point.
They are fifth, but only two points off the Mariners
and fourth and four points behind Victor Egan third, and
they've got two games in hand on both of those teams.
So when you're games in hand and all of a
sudden you're up in the top three. Massive game coming
up on Saturday. They welcome second placed Melbourne City to
(25:53):
Pottydoor Park four o'clock kick off. And we've talked a lot,
haven't we about that game in round four I think
it was or the fourth game Wellington have played the season. Anyway,
when they lost one, Nill Rebecca stopped the football firm
scoring a goal right at the end. That was pretty
much from Memory Birds. The only opportunity Melbourne City had
in that entire game, it.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Was, it was. It was a really weird scenario, their
only chance. The Phoenix had five or six good opportunities
for Memory. So they'll go into this game with belief
there'll be a huge crowd there and it's it's just
set up really well, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Yeah, the two best defensive teams in the league.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
You know.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Even having conceded the two on the weekend, which is
that's the first time the Phoenix have let too in
all season, they still have only conceded six in eight games.
Melbourne City just six goals conceded as well. So then
you start looking for game breakers, don't you, when you
start thinking about players who might you know, have an
influence as far as the Phoenix are concerned. Samba went
(26:52):
off injured which was a concern. Again haven't heard any
clarification about her availability for the weekend, but I mean,
obviously the ideal if she was there. I just I
quite like Brooke Nunn. She's really growing on me as
a as a player, you know, apart from the goal
she got, but like Isa, she just kept on going.
(27:13):
She seems like she's got a really good engine. She's
got a little bit of mongrel and that's a positive.
She was squaring off with one of the Brisbane players
at one point I saw. I feel like she's a
bit of a spark in the side.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Mmm. She's a bit like that. She's very persistent, she's
strong in the tackle, strong on the ball. I mean.
The interesting thing for me about this team is you
can already see the collective improvement that since the first match,
but what about the individual improvement? You know, there are
(27:47):
individuals that have already gone in leaps and bounds from
where they were last season or where they were at
the start of this season. That is the encouraging thing.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Yeah, And that's coaching, isn't it. You know that coaches
improved players, don't they good one They get hold of
players and they improve them. And we know be Priestman's
credentials and clearly she's doing exactly that. No CJ Bot
for this game again, no news on whether she'll be
available to face Melbourne City. I mean it would be
a big loss if she was out for a prolonged period.
(28:17):
It did give him a Pinenberger chance to start for
a starting day Bill and I think she did a
pretty serviceable job, I think, but short of a gallop
withdrawn sort of during the second half. But yeah, look,
a really crucial game, in fact, a crucial couple of
games because following this they then visit league leaders Canberra
for they obviously have played them once already this season,
(28:41):
So big Fortnite coming up. But what you say is
so true. Birds there's an obvious improvement in this team
if you compare them to the team that had those
one all draws at the start of the season and
just looked like they were kind of stuck in the
mud at the start line for a little while.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
They did, and I think Canberra were lucky to play
Wellington when they did. Camber's very experienced team and you know,
they know what they're doing. So hopefully that will show
in a week's time. But I don't think any team
will want to come to Poro Park now. I think
it's going to become a really a pretty fearsome assignment,
(29:16):
you know, especially with those fans that make such a
racket and then you've got the players that seem to
love playing there.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Yeah, and so this Saturday year, I mean, if you're
in the Wellington area, I would urge you to get
along to Potty to a park for what it's set
to be a massive game as the Phoenix take on
Melbourne City. Yeah. Make it a fortress, make it a
difficult place to come, make it a place that, yes
you say, birds, that teams don't want to visit. So
four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, the Wellington Phoenix Women up
(29:42):
against Melbourne City. If that goes well, they could find
themselves up in the certainly in the top four and
even beyond at the end of the weekend.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
Good balls either with Jason Paide and mikel Burgess.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
And that brings us to last night at campbell Town.
A fairly sparsely populated Campbelltown. I must say not too
many of the locals venturing out on what was a
fairly wet evening. First time. Auckland have been there as
well when they played MacArthur away last year. It was
U Night rounds and so all the teams played in
the same place. MacArthur won Auckland FC.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
One.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Let's start with an overall summation Burge. I are Auckland
happy with a point to MacArthur happy with a point?
Who who deserved to win this game?
Speaker 3 (30:27):
If either MacArthur will be happy, They'll be very happy
with the point. They're a good team. But I thought
Auckland were the better side go ahead and at one
nil they had a couple of chances to make it
to nil, which would of course probably probably sealed the result.
And then MacArthur get a goal, get a very good
(30:48):
goal and it became quite interesting from there. But I
think Auckland will be like to get in a point
way at MacArthur. The season not easy to've improved from
last year, so Auckland won't be to distraught, but they'll
be thinking we should have got that one.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Yeah it was, well, let's we can't. We can't talk
about the changes before we sort of build the narrative
of the starting eleven. So some significant changes to the
starting eleven after the loss to the Jets, with Kellen Elliott,
Jake Goodwouldri Like Gazumer Mai and Sam Cosgrove all dropping
down to the bench. The Rocky Saka came back, I
(31:24):
think that was probably expected. Pineker and for goodwould Rike
Rogerson and Francois into the starting eleven. So for the
first time this season Auckland FC didn't start with Sam
Cosgrove up top. It kind of changed things. I just
thought they looked a little bit unbalanced without without an
actual center forward Francois Randall Rogerson. I mean, Brook was
(31:47):
in the ten and we can talk a bit more
about his performance, which was again excellent, but I don't know,
it just felt us though the front three didn't quite
know where to be all of the time without Sam
Cosgrove kind of anchoring them in that number nine role.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
Yeah, they haven't played together at all this season that three,
so it was always going to be a bit tricky
at times. I quite liked it because with Randall's pace,
it stretches the defense a bit, and that I thought
gave Brook a bit of space because sometimes with Cosgrove,
his his moving circle is you know, it doesn't move
(32:24):
that much, so he's a a bit more stationary. But
I guess Cosgrove is the anchor, isn't he. So it
was a surprise. He's been playing all season and he
was planned b in that game. I think they might
revert to him being playing a but I maybe they
thought he didn't go that well against Newcastle so they
had to try something different.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Yeah, and Steve Corica also pointed out that they have
three games in nine days. But then again, I mean
there's other players in the team who will play every
minute of those games. Lachlan Brook, it just feels to
me as though he has to be the number ten now.
You know, the previous week against Newcastle gives you my
Mike came back into the starting eleven and Brooke reverted
(33:08):
as the white position. You talked last week about how
you know, seemed to be out of the game on
the fringes, a lot of stuff going down the left.
He was all the way over the right by himself.
He's just so much more effective in that ten role.
Scored a goal last night. Everything good for Auckland FC
in the attacking sense seemed to go through Lachland. Brookie
has to be the starting ten, doesn't he?
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Yes, yes, I mean you called it a couple of
weeks ago. I think you're probably the first person to
call it to say he's a Johnny Warren Medalist contender,
and he certainly looked. He's just so influential. He looks
so confident and that playmaker role just behind the stre well.
It was actually a free roll last night, wasn't it.
(33:49):
He was sort of floating and popping everywhere. But that
suits him down to a te He probably should have
got a second goal. That'll be something he'll be kicking
himself about. But I was surprised he went off like
I don't want to start criticizing Kuraka again. We talked
last week about the substitutions. You know, it's way more
about football than any of us. But I was a
(34:10):
bit surprised. I thought he was playing well, and you
just I thought MacArthur would have been happy when he
went off. Put it that way, yes, oh, same sixty
four minutes and when they made the triple change, I
it didn't even occur to me that one of those
coming off would be Lachlan brook. He looked, you know,
at that point they were one nell up. So I
(34:30):
get you know that they change things. They go to
the back three, goodwood Wright comes on, Pinaker, goodwould right,
Hall becomes the back three, and then you got Devres
and Sarki as a back five out of possession, and
I get that.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
I get that. You're one nell up away from home
with twenty five minutes to go. You think, okay, this
is the time to sew things up. But I'd still
keep locky Brook on. You know, yes, Jesse Randalls had
a good season, but he remained on until five minutes
from the end. Rogerson went off at this same time.
Brooke did as well as Francois. But yeah, I just
(35:04):
think they look better when he's playing. And again, maybe
it's one of those where you say, okay, we've got
another game coming up on Friday night, but I think
they really missed him when he was subbed. Was it
felt early to me to go to the back five,
I e. The back three sixty five minutes or maybe
it's not. I don't know. Is that the right time
to shut up shop when you wander up away from home.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
I felt like it was a bit early, and I
don't want to be being smart in hindsight, but I
was sitting there watching and I think it was even
about sixty two minutes, and I thought, oh, really, they're
going to a back five now, because to me remembering
last season and generally it's always around the seventy five
minute mark, and it's a good idea in theory, but
then you do give up something when you go to
(35:48):
back five. Obviously you give up a body further forward,
which makes it tricky. And then of course it just
felt it felt a little bit early to go to
a back five, And with Brooke, I just you're right,
they need him for the next few games. He's so
influential now, but keep in mind for another ten minutes
(36:08):
and maybe he gets another goal. I h I would
have liked to see him play a bit more.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Yea, because the problem is strike because then they concede
and it's one all and you don't have that extra
body if you're go and chasing the win, which Auckland did.
To be fair, they gave it a crack. You know,
some teams they say, okay, well one all will take
that as well on the road, but Auckland always look
to try and win games. It's a nice goal actually
from from MacArthur, Liam Rose dinking a ball across to
Callum Talbot, who had an excellent game at right back
(36:35):
for MacArthur. He squared it back and Tommy Yrsk I'm
not sure he got the greatest contact on the header,
but in fact, if you've got better contact, it might
have gone straight to vowed. So it probably wasn't a
bad idea just to sort of flick it into the corner.
One all it is, and I mean MacArthur are unbeaten
the six games now, you know, one of the more
consistent sides in the competition. So if you zoom out
of it and say we'll take a point away at
(36:56):
a team that is on a six game unbeaten streak.
But yeah, they perhaps could have could have done things differently,
but you're right. You know, Steve Courrikan knows way more
about the stuff than we do. He's got a plan. Well,
it's good to see Liam Gillian back on the pitture
as well. I thought at the end he's almost become
a little bit of the forgotten man Liam Gillian. Last year,
remember he was for the first dozen games or so,
(37:18):
he was magnificent, made the All Whites off the back
of his A League performances and has kind of drifted away.
I was pleased to see Liam Gillian back out there,
even for a short time, showing a little bit of
energy in the in the Auckland FC shirt.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
Well, last season he was sparkling in the spring, wasn't
he All through spring he was, and he became a
really popular player with the fans. And it's hard to
come on with ten minutes. But he did a couple
of nice things as well. On one particular little incision
where he beat a couple of players and put across
and that was blocked. So yeah, it was nice for
her Man in Auckland. To their credit, they created a
(37:54):
lot more even from one to one. They looked the
more team, the team more likely to score. So they've
still got a lot going for them. They'll probably just
be thinking if Lachland Brook buries that chance he has
if he takes it on his right foot, and I
think it was a Jesse Randall played it back to
him and he tried to beat his man and then
be a bit cute and put it on the left,
(38:14):
which you can see what he's trying to do. But
if he takes it first time and is right to nil,
and it's probably game over.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
Indeed indeed, So I mean we don't need to get
too hypercritical. Auckland FC have actually increased their lead at
the top. They are two points ahead of Sydney FC,
who do have a game in hand, So if Sidney
would were to win the game in hand, they would
go above Auckland. Auckland now are in a situation where
Brisbane could join them at the top. Brisbane play Melbourne
(38:42):
City at Amy Park tonight. We're recording this on Tuesday,
so if Brisbane were to go to Melbourne and win,
that would take them to twenty one points, level with
Auckland FC. So you know, even despite their lost Brisbane
the other day to the Phoenix, they're still sniffing around
the top. And for Auckland FC will stay in Australia
and play Brisbane on Friday nights. So yeah, Brisbane win tonight.
(39:04):
There's a top of the table clash to look forward
to it at sun Corps Stadium. So eleven games in
Birds to the to the A League mens. It's like
I can't remember a tighter A League men's season where
teams from top two. I mean my pick for the
Premier's play Western Sydney bottom for goodness sake bottom, but
there are only six points outside the top six.
Speaker 3 (39:26):
So you know, and I think my pick Melbourne Victory
were bottom about three weeks ago and they've saw themselves out.
But you're like, you look at a team like Newcastle,
what have they had the season? Six losses? Yep, they're
still outside the top six, but they've been a clancy
twice and they could be anything on their day. So
(39:46):
they sort of sum up this season's A league. I
think it's fantastic because that's what you want. Do you
want genuine uncertainty, that's what you got.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
You didn't want to pick Maritis to go to Adelaide
and win four and all the other night, No, absolutely not,
absolutely not. They pick Phoenix to beat Brisbane. Absolutely not.
And you can say that every week there is genuine
jeopardy in this league and it will it will keep
fans of every club interested deep, deep, deep into the season.
Look Western Sydney could, I mean you look at their
team and I saw Allan Stadgeic their coach, talk about
(40:17):
their XG which is I've never really got my head around.
But what it means is the quality of the chances
you create, it still needs you to finish them off.
He reckons their top of the XG table, They've hit
the post nine times or something. You know, he still
believes they can win the whole thing. So you know,
and you look at the quality of their squad and
(40:38):
you think, well, actually they're probably, on paper anyway, one
of the three or four best rosters in the competition.
But you still got to win games. But yeah, so
it does. It makes it very very, very very exciting
each week. So Friday night Auckland FC against Brisbane, Saturday
afternoon Wellington Phoenix Woman against Melbourne City and Sunday afternoon
that's the next game for the Wellington Phoenix at home
(41:00):
to Adelaide. Games are coming thick and fast. Burge, I'm
not sure what day it is today. I'm not sure
when we'll catch up next, but another episode of Football
Fever surely must be somewhere in our future.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
I can't wait. And that's but seriously, that's a that's
a great lineup this weekend the matches, isn't it. That's
one of the best lineups I would have thought the
season we've had for all three teams.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
We look forward to breaking those three games down with
you next Monday.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
F
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!