Our series of mid-season reviews continues with a look at the Wellington Phoenix.
The story so far
The Nix have had the usual ups and downs on the field in the 2015-16 campaign, but this season has been different for a number of reasons off the pitch. The customary emotional ride for Nix fans has been cranked up a few levels, as this season has brought about the licence extension disagreement and consequent fan #SaveTheNix campaign, while club stalwart Ben Sigmund has announced he will retire at the end of the season.
Currently sitting seventh on the table, the Phoenix played their last match missing eight players. Louis Fenton was again absent through injury, however there have also been shock season-ending injuries to Alex Rufer and, most worryingly, Roy Krishna, which the Nix will have to deal with over an extended period. Without Krishna, who has scored six goals and provided three assists for Wellington this term, the Nix are set to struggle as the search goes on for a striker who can replicate the goalscoring form of the prolific Nathan Burns last season.
Off-field issues have combined with poor away performances on the pitch, which has seen the Phoenix struggle to put together a decent run of results. This is the polar opposite to this stage last season where the Nix had won four away matches and were consistently winning at home to sit a comfortable second on the table at the end of round 14. Last season’s strong away form has evaporated and the Nix have fallen back on their ability to pick up any kind of points at home, with draws often hailed as being as important as a win.
This can be summed up by matches against Melbourne Victory in rounds four and nine. The Phoenix were lucky to lose just 3-0 at Etihad Stadium in week four but dished up brilliant football in a stunning 2-0 win against the reigning champs at Auckland’s QBE Stadium in round nine. Or, a dominating 4-2 win over Adelaide at Westpac in round six, overturned by a 3-0 meek surrender at Coopers Stadium in round 12.
The manager
Ernie Merrick has so far failed to deliver on his promise: to add another A-League title to his cabinet. This is his third season with the Nix, and being seventh halfway through this current season is not good enough.
Merrick’s team plays some good counter-attacking football and he continues to establish decent connections with the Phoenix and New Zealand Football, giving youngsters a pathway to the professional game with the academy and premiers team, as well as the Wellington United ‘Weenix’. Dylan Fox, Justin Gulley and Matthew Ridenton are all decent talents unearthed this season.
He is yet to get the best out of Jeffrey Sarpong and turn him into the out-and-out goalscorer that he said he would be at the start of the season. His defensive line is a headscratcher, with 22 goals conceded and only 17 goals scored (both the fourth-worst in the league), and yet a largely youthful back line managed to keep table-toppers Brisbane Roar out in the latest round. Discipline has also been poor, with too many players picking up silly yellows and avoidable suspensions (Manny Muscat and Albert Riera).
Merrick’s main aim for the rest of the season must be to encourage his side to pick up their away form as it has won only once overseas so far this season, a round two victory over Perth Glory way back in round two. He must also get Sarpong to realise his talents.
Standout Player
It has to be Krishna. With his six goals and three assists, he does not have the technicality of Roly Bonevacia or the guile of Michael McGlinchey, but what he does have is an eye for goal and a wicked turn of pace.
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He seemed to be relishing his role this season and looked destined to be a challenger for the Golden Boot this season, so his injury is a huge blow for the Phoenix. If the Fijian can get fully fit and firing again before season’s end, the Nix have one of the league’s most dangerous talents at their disposal.
Second-half prediction
This season, the Phoenix’s ninth, is the most crucial of the club’s short history. The team needs to perform in the next 13 games and at the bare minimum, make it to the play-offs in order to demonstrate that they belong in the A-League for many more seasons to come. A grand final victory would be the ultimate tonic, as hopefully as that may seem.
In the absence of their Fijian star Krishna, it is imperative that the new front three of Sarpong, McGlinchey and Blake Powell performs to its utmost in tandem, and starts scoring goals immediately, otherwsise this could be a long and fruitless season for the Phoenix.
The Nix need to face the off-field turmoil head-on and provide on-field success for the fans in order to send a message to the FFA that they are here to stay. With that, just like the Australian teams, the Kiwi side can challenge for silverware.
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