KEY POINTS:
It wasn't something he wanted to contemplate just yet but Ricki Herbert will consider making a few changes for his side's final two games of the season.
The Phoenix's 2-0 defeat to Sydney FC on Friday night finally extinguished the top-four aspirations to which they had clung for a number of weeks on the back of solid results.
"It makes the picture clear for us now," the Wellington coach said, "but I'm really proud that with three games to go we were there going for the top four.
"That has exceeded expectations we had as a club.
"We could change things for the next couple of weeks. There are a number of players, and certainly younger players, who haven't had much of a chance this season and I might well give them a chance."
The likes of under-20 signings Costa Barbarouses, Greg Draper and Jacob Spoonley all come into that category, as does striker Royce Brownlie.
The dilemma Herbert faces, however, is that heading into the final rounds his side sit in seventh, only four points ahead of Perth who have a game in hand. There's no way he and his players want to sup from the wooden spoon and they still face away trips to Melbourne and Central Coast.
Herbert also intends to devote more time to analysing the makeup of his squad for next season.
There are only limited openings available but he said he would not shy away from cutting a current squad member and paying out their contract or helping them find another club if it was the best move for his squad.
"There are only five or six openings but if we need to make it seven or more because I think we need to do it, I will," he said. "I will only do it if there are quality players out there who can come in to replace what we have. I won't make changes for the sake of it but it's my responsibility to make the football team better."
Although a list of A-league players off contract is available and there has been speculation linking the Phoenix to All Whites Leo Bertos and Ben Sigmund, Herbert said he would not move until the end of the season.
"Over the next two weeks we will sit down and consider where we want to strengthen the side," he said.
One vacancy could be freed up by skipper Ross Aloisi, who is off contract at the end of the season.
The 34-year-old has struggled with a back injury of late, which has limited his appearances, and they will be limited even further after he was sent off late against Sydney after coming on as a substitute.
