While there was a shortage of goals, Wellington’s nil-all deadlock with the Wanderers did actually provide some positive signs for the New Zealand side – especially at the defensive end of the field.
It marked the beginning of what is hoped to be a successful reign under new manager Giancarlo Italiano, and the Phoenix’s dogged defence at Commbank Stadium was hailed by fans and players alike as a successful away trip.
Many fans were quick to review the match through the lens of a Wanderers fan, however, I have tried to put my “yellow cap” on and try to assess the performance and season ahead through the eyes of our Kiwi cousins.
So, what does success look like for the Phoenix?
The departure of Ufuk Talay last season was compounded by the exodus of a string of key players who previously filled the engine room – Clayton Lewis, Steven Ugarkovic, Ben Waine, Oliver Sail, Joshua Laws, Callan Elliot, Lucas Mauragis and Yan Sasse.
Like Melbourne City and Central Coast, their turnover was significant; Phoenix fans were quick to express pessimism, and who could blame them? The only club that has yet to win silverware had built momentum under Talay and was touted by some as a dark horse for the championship.
In the space of a single off-season, those aspirations were seemingly dashed. And yet, Phoenix fans found reasons to be positive for the opening game of the season.
Goalkeeper Alex Paulsen established himself as Wellington’s number one with an excellent man-of-the-match showing.
The gloveman was not the only one who impressed; Academy players Finn Surman and Lukas Kelly-Heald were under siege for the bulk of the game, yet flew home with a clean sheet under their belt – such a credit to the inexperienced pair of defenders.
Nicolas Milanovic of the Wanderers battles for possession with Finn Surman of the Phoenix during the Round One clash. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)
With fewer veterans to draw upon than his predecessor, Italiano has been forced to roll the dice on the club’s academy stock; a difficult task, but with the spattering of key leaders Kosta Barbarouses, Alex Rufer, David Ball, and Tim Payne, the Phoenix may emerge as a stubborn outfit to break.
Post-game, commentators Luke Wilkshire and Andy Harper were right to point out the new-look Phoenix had proven to themselves they could defend – but whether they can attack, still remains to be seen.
Polish striker Oskar Zawada was largely anonymous and with the exception of a blank-point header by Nicholas Pennington, the Yellow Fever had little to cheer about in their front half. As fans, we saw the doggedness of Wellington when they were fighting for the draw – it will be interesting to see how they shape when they are chasing the win or an equaliser.
In a 12-team competition chained by a tight salary cap, every A-League fan has the luxury of demanding their club make a strong run at finals. As alluded to beforehand, all but Wellington have raised trophies. Yet, Italiano’s first season in charge has not been branded with any grand aspirations.
Nor should it. If Italiano’s appointment was made with a long-term vision in mind, perhaps lower expectations should be made of the youthful New Zealand outfit.
Phoenix fans should demand the team be competitive and the Yellow Fever would be right to condemn humiliation, but in this new era, it seems to be a priority of Wellington’s to blood their new players.
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