Talay manages to lead the way

(32.98%).

Under Herbert, the All Whites celebrated a hen’s-teeth-rare win in Australia like a World Cup final victory, but Talay’s teams haven’t found it a psychological hurdle (although having to set up home in Sydney has helped).

If you look at the stark statistics, it could be argued that the Phoenix’s performances have declined this term. Sure, they’ve qualified for the playoffs in sixth place, but they have lost more games (11) in the regular season than any other in Talay’s tenure. They’ve also conceded considerably more goals (49) – 15 more than last term – and scored fewer (34). For the first time, a Talay Phoenix side – without Davila and Hemed’s scoring threat, Devlin’s dynamism and Taylor’s defensive organisation – finished with a negative goals differential.

The stark facts mean Talay probably won’t win another coach of the year prize to match his rookie season award. Melbourne City’s Patrick Kisnorbo must be favourite. But look beyond the numbers and it’s strikingly obvious that no New Zealand sports team in exile in Australia has coped as well with the challenge as the Phoenix.

A lot of that must be down to a bloke who may well be one of Australia’s better exports to New Zealand since Vegemite.

STUFF PHOTOSPORT Ufuk Talay signs an autograph for a young Phoenix fan in Wellington last month. Ufuk Talay’s intelligent manmanagement and tactical knowledge have helped Phoenix cope with the Covid-enforced challenge of spending much of their time in Australia.