A cruel cut: How did one of the best teams in Wellington Phoenix history miss the A League playoffs?

It's been a challenging season of two halves for the Wellington Phoenix in 2021. Photo / Photosport

At the end of Friday's Wellington Phoenix clash with Macarthur FC, commentator Mark Bosnich neatly summed up the sentiment of almost everyone watching.

The Phoenix had been sublime in their 3-0 win – the margin could have been as much as five or six – but that wasn't enough to make the playoffs, as other results conspired against them over the last week.

"It's a shame it will be the last time we see them this season," said the former Manchester United and Socceroos goalkeeper, before lavishing praise on their style of play and development over this campaign.

It was a cruel cut for the Phoenix, who finished one point outside the top six.

David Ball celebrates after scoring a goal against Macarthur FC on Friday. Photo / Photosport

Critics will say the A League table doesn't lie, but this time maybe it does. Finishing the season with an 11-match unbeaten run (six wins, five draws), the Phoenix are clearly among the best teams, probably in the top quartet.

The history books won't reflect it, but this Phoenix incarnation is one of the best since the club's inception in 2007.

Probably no other team from the capital has played such entertaining football, with such a range of attacking power and prowess. Their sparky, possession-based game is a joy to watch, with the precision and skill to trouble any team in the league.

That's why their absence from the finals hurts so much, because they had the ability to make a genuine impact.

But ultimately, they failed to reach their potential, and will join other 'what might have been' teams in New Zealand sport.

Like the 1985 Kiwis, who were grossly short-changed by a 2-1 series defeat to the Kangaroos and a shared rubber (1-1) with the British Lions.

Like the 1992 New Zealand men's cricket team, who could have played a World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

And like the 2003 Warriors, who were an improved outfit from the year before but missed a second successive grand final by a whisker.

So how did the Phoenix miss out?

The margins were tight.

If Ulises Davila had converted his 88th minute penalty against the Perth Glory last Sunday, they would probably be celebrating a finals berth now.

But that's unfair on the Mexican. The Phoenix were hamstrung by an awful start, with only one win from their first eight games.

They lost matches to the bottom two teams (Melbourne Victory and the Newcastle Jets), who have been cannon fodder for most of this season.

It's been a challenging season of two halves for the Wellington Phoenix in 2021. Photo / Photosport

For a period they struggled to deal with set pieces and they also had to adjust to life without influential defenders Liberato Cacace and Steven Taylor (until his return in mid-March).

But the elephant in the room is the enforced Covid-19 relocation to Australia. With the fine margins in elite sport, that could have been enough to tip the balance, especially in the first half of the season.

Last week striker David Ball admitted it had been tough to "get up" for games at a near empty stadium in Wollongong and the Englishman is an experienced professional, unlike many of his young teammates.

Some might say that players should adapt to any circumstance, but that's naïve. There's always an impact, whether physical or mental.

Ask yourself how Melbourne City would fare if they had to play all their home games in Timaru next season? Probably not so well.

But Phoenix fans shouldn't despair.

The fruiting of the vine is surely not that far away. Most of the squad is retained for next season, while the most crucial signature was Ufuk Talay's.

In just his second A-League campaign as head coach,Talay has proven himself as one of the best coaches in the competition and the foundations for future success have been laid.