The Nix Fix: New Year, Same Nix
New Year’s Draw
The New Year’s Day match against Adelaide has done little to persuade fans that the club is on the way up. Playing against the bottom of the table team the Nix failed to score over the 90 minutes, ending up with a 0-0 draw in front of just 5,548 spectators.
The Nix were not without chances, especially towards the backend of the game, but like so many other occasions this season just couldn’t find that finishing touch. Of arguably more concern was the lacklustre performances of midfield players Finkler and Barbarouses, with the pair hardly threatening the opposition and to be honest looking a disengaged out there at times.
A win against Adelaide would have moved the Nix up to sixth temporarily on the table yet they remain eighth nearly halfway through the season.
While the weather was awful, a crowd that low just adds fuel to the fire of Mark Bosnich and others who have started to yet again bring up the conversation of the Nix’s place in the A-League. The current Fox Sports presenter has been very vocal recently about removing the Nix from the league to make way for more Australian based sides. Last night’s performance will have done little to silence the critics.
Greenacre & Buckingham
Interim coaches Chris Greenacre and Des Buckingham have been confirmed through to the end of the current season. The pair took over from Ernie Merrick after he elected to step down early in December.
The decision seems the most logical one with the club acknowledging how difficult it would be to bring a new coach in at this stage of the season. Since taking over from Merrick the pair have gone unbeaten in four games registering one win and three draws. It’s the first time the Nix have gone unbeaten in four games since early 2015.
The duo will have the rest of the season to prove they have what it takes to take the team forward longterm. The only way to do that is start picking up wins and get the team back into the top six.
Smeltz Returns
This Thursday’s match against Perth will see the return of Shane Smeltz. The 35 year old striker last played for the Nix back in 2009 and has been patiently waiting for the transfer window to roll around having resigned with the club a couple of weeks ago from Kedah FA, Malaysia.
Smeltz will add more depth to the attacking stocks of Greenacre & Buckingham although it’s likely we’ll see him start off the bench this week against the club he had 58 appearances for. With McGlinchey also a possibility to return this week, it will put some much needed pressure on the current starting attacking players to lift their game or find themselves relegated to the bench.
Smeltz has 21 goals in 39 appearances for the Nix.
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