New year, fresh start for Phoenix
Whenever a new year comes, there are plenty who seize the opportunity and try to make a fresh start.
Forget what’s gone before, they say, this is what I’m going to do now.
And you can bet the Wellington Phoenix are feeling the same way, as they prepare to usher in 2017 against Adelaide United at Westpac Stadium tonight.
With the exception of their A-League licence renewal, which came in February, giving them a minimum of four more years in the competition, 2016 wasn’t a great year for the Phoenix.
Their calendar year record consists of six wins, three draws and 17 losses; they finished second to last in the 2015-16 season; and they lost their manager, Ernie Merrick, two months into this one.
Since then, the search for a replacement has dragged on, missing its early targets of ‘by Christmas,’ and ‘by the end of the year,’ and then to top things off, Australian pundit Mark Bosnich began this week questioning what the Phoenix bring to the league, sparking the tiresome debate of whether they deserve to be there at all (short answer: They do).
For now, it’s Merrick’s assistants Chris Greenacre and Des Buckingham who are in charge as cocoaches, and since they took over, the Phoenix have picked up a win and two draws.
‘‘We’re quite happy with how we’ve progressed over the last three weeks,’’ said Buckingham.
‘‘When we started [as interim coaches] three weeks ago we were six points off of fifth, we’re now two points off of fifth with a game in hand and we’re unbeaten in three, which I think is the first time in two years that this team has been able to do that.’’
The key to their approach, Buckingham said, had been keeping things simple.
‘‘It’s just been a review game by game of what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what’s needed refining. We’ve added some further bits this week, which you’ll hopefully see [on Sunday].’’
The Phoenix’s last game against Adelaide was a 2-0 loss on December
When we started [as interim coaches] three weeks ago we were six points off of fifth, we’re now two points off of fifth. Des Buckingham
4 that was followed by Merrick’s resignation, so Sunday’s game should give a good indication as to how much they’ve improved since then.
For his part, Buckingham is wary of the threat Adelaide pose, even if they currently sit last on the A-League ladder, with the win over the Phoenix their only success so far this season.
‘‘Everyone knows they won the championship last year, and they’ve got pretty much the same core of players. We’ve watched all of their games as we always do and they’re a dangerous team,’’ he said.
‘‘They seem to be getting caught out with mistakes or individual errors, and that’s costing them goals ... but they’ve got a very, very experienced team.’’
The Phoenix will be able to call on midfielders Michael McGlinchey and Alex Rodriguez, who have both recovered from injuries and should make their returns via the bench, while striker Hamish Watson is a good chance to return to the starting lineup, with Adam Parkhouse the most likely of last week’s starters to make way.
It will be a big game for Watson, given the imminent return of Shane Smeltz, who will pull on a Phoenix shirt for the first time since 2009 on Thursday, when they travel to play the Perth Glory.
Smeltz has been training with the squad for the past couple of weeks, waiting for the transfer window to open, and Greenacre said the 35-year-old striker looked fit.
‘‘We all know the pedigree that he brings and the experience that he brings. He’s a top goalscorer and he looks as sharp as ever. I think everyone who doesn’t know him doesn’t realise how much of a pro he is off the field. He’s been away, he’s come back, and he looks in immaculate condition.’’
Tonight’s game kicks off at 7.35pm.
Meanwhile, Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold is backing his title favourites to finish the season as undefeated ‘‘Invincibles’’.
Last weekend they set a new Australian record for a best-ever start to a top- flight season, and Friday night’s clinical 2-0 victory over Brisbane extended the Sky Blues’ unbeaten run to 13 games.
‘‘I know we’ve got a target on our back but these boys are getting better and there’s no reason why we can’t attempt to do it,’’ Arnold said.