When Ernie Merrick was announced as coach of the Wellington Phoenix it seemed to be met with mixed views from both the media and fans alike.
Many thought his time was up at A-League level after his tenure as coach of the Melbourne Victory. But why?
Was it his age or was it performance related? Merrick’s record at Victory speaks for itself – in six seasons he won two premiership-championship doubles and a third grand final appearance.
Victory felt they needed change and the most successful coach in the A-League was given his marching orders after a disappointing ACL match against Gamba Osaka. Coming off another finals campaign it could have been considered a harsh decision from the Victory hierarchy.
Most pundits felt Merrick was inheriting a very average Wellington Phoenix side and were unsure if he would be the man to lift performances when he took over last season.
Wellington finished the 2013-14 season in ninth position which, while disappointing, was not as bad as it looks on paper. It was always going to take time for Merrick to initiate change and Wellington appears to be seeing the fruits of their labour in the current season.
Certainly the addition of Nathan Burns has proven to be the recruit of the season, the first Phoenix player to score a hat trick and 10 goals for the season. Michael McGlinchey has also given the midfield some much needed reinforcement.
Teams under Merrick had traditionally been very strong defensively and this season it appears to be coming to the fore. Wellington are yet to concede more than two goals in a game, have two consecutive clean sheets and Merrick has the side brimming with confidence.
Merrick acknowledged it was not the prettiest of wins against Western Sydney but in the past these are the types of games the Phoenix struggled in.
As Wellington prepare to face Adelaide United on New Year’s Eve at Hindmarsh stadium a win will take the Phoenix into outright third position. While Burns will be absent with Socceroos duty it appears Jeremy Brockie will step straight in along with Kenny Cunningham and Taylor Boyd, ready to perform if called upon.
Adelaide themselves will be missing captain Eugene Galekovic, and with the Reds dealing with injury and suspensions of their own the time is right for the Phoenix to strike.
It’s hard to imagine the Phoenix being a potential grand finalist pre-season but at the halfway point they are certainly one of the form sides. Ernie Merrick has achieved a lot in the A-League, but Wellington Phoenix could yet be his greatest achievement.
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