Hey, at least Wellington Phoenix's 2-1 loss to Newcastle Jets on Sunday wasn't that bad? Sure, the Phoenix allowed the Jets to score two goals thanks to some absolutely horrible defending but they aren't too worse off than last year right? Indeed and that's half the problem as the 'Nix fumbled their way to a first up loss despite dominating much of the game.

Enjoying the majority of possession and more opportunities to score, the Phoenix largely looked like a reincarnation of their 2015 version. The same general attacking issues remain with this Phoenix team as they look pretty good holding the ball, putting players into space and creating decent chances but there is still the lack of a presence in the attacking box and that was an issue even when Nathan Burns was around.

I like Ernie - seeing as I named this thingy after him - so I am willing to ride it out with the coach. However, Ernie's preference for attacking play which looks good doesn't really provide the substance that the Phoenix need. I am definitely not in Ernie's realm as a coach, which makes things slightly crazier as a dummy like me can note how the 'Nix still love to attack down the flanks and whip crosses into no one.

Roy Krishna was the best attacking weapon for the Phoenix which is encouraging but Krishna is far from the finished article in the A-League despite enjoying a breakout season last time around. Krishna has the ability to beat players and get into good spaces while lacking any sort of polish or class when trying to score them goals. There was also the missed penalty which was a lacklustre pen and Krishna didn't look overly confident; maybe Krishna needs to be used as a straight up striker?

What is troubling is the lack of penetration through the middle as well. This is an easier fix as we know that Roly Bonevacia can create giving passes and getting the back on the burst and in conjunction with Michael McGlinchey and Jeffrey Sarpong things could get funky. None of that was really evident on Sunday though as McGlinchey made you wonder what makes him 'so good' and Sarpong only really got his feet wet.

It's going to be difficult to win games - regardless of who the other team is because in this game a reasonably average Newcastle team clogged the middle and sat back - when you have passengers as the 'Nix did. McGlinchey didn't do much besides imitate a vacuum and hindered the flow of the Phoenix's attack while Vince Lia might as well just had the night off. Lia and Albert Riera are extremely similar players and Ernie had them both playing in the middle of the park - I'd rather have Riera sitting in front of the back-four with Sarpong instead of Lia.

I'm not sold on Blake Powell who started up front and produced one shot and one cross all game. Sell yourself to me Blake!

Andrew Durante went off injured - which was a massive concern leading into this game, cheers footy gods - which pushed Manny Muscat back to CB and Tom Doyle came on at LB. Muscat is a wee lad and isn't the best CB in the world that's for sure but both goals came about thanks to Ben Sigmund's lack of awareness of what was going on around him. Durante might help with his communication and organisation here, but I would expect Sigmund as an A-League CB to be able to see that David Carney prick standing wide open at the near post in front of Siggy.

The Phoenix have signed a CB with Dylan Fox snapped up after training with the Phoenix so that's good. I reckon this just means that Riera must be told to do nothing else but what he's best at and protect the CB pairing as the 'Nix look their best when there is also three blokes - usually Sigmund, Durante and Riera holding down the middle.

Interestingly, Alex Rodriguez came on at RB for Louis Fenton and Rodriguez looked pretty good out on the flank.

How's this for a stat - Krishna and McGlinchey combined for 14 unsuccessful crosses #Boom.

There is not much point in over-analyzing this performance from the 'Nix as we're only one game into this season. What's worrying is that the 'Nix gave me the same feeling of excitement when they hold the ball and then incredible frustration as they did something daft to fluff that chance - don't get me started on the defence. We're a game down and deja vu has struck.